Combat Exam #6

[The Designer]

RAIDEN vs. CHEPHROS

That sign was held over the entrances to the Stadium, telling who was fighting and who wasn't. It was that time of the year where the Combat Exams would get started, and those who fought were graded on their performance as well as awe-inspired the Audience with their antics and skills.

Currently, the watchers of this fight were Halsephea, the Keeper Engel and Azrael.... A very odd trio. Maedallus, meanwhile, was at the center of the Roman-esque Arena, as though the Arena itself was ripped right out of a Gladiator movie. Anyways, looking at the two locker rooms opposite from each other, he wondered when the fights would emergy....

[Chephros]

Standing in his own locker room, Chephros simply loosened his body up. On his left arm was his modified weapon, his right arm however was free. He had cut the sleeves of his armored clothing off to just behind the elbows and then had someone who knew how to use a needle and string at the academy sow the seam back. Since it wasn't magic cloth, there was no worry there. The black color retained, he looked at his arms. The burn scars on his left arm were hidden, covered perfectly by the spiraling metal. His right arm however was open and bare. Anyone could see the spiral marks going up his arm to just before the elbow, and then the circle of metal that connected the four rods. And they would also be able to guess, via noticing the match of the blade, where it had come from and what he was missing.

Cracking his neck by rolling his head backward with force on the backwards motion, he then proceeded to crack his fingers by making a quick flex into a claw like formation with his fingers. Then he curled them and pushed down near the knuckle with his opposite thumb to crack those. Putting his fingers perpendicular to the opposite palm, he put the thumb across the back of the bone to his middle finger and twisted, cracking his wrist, and did that for both. Curling his arms to his chest, he tensed them and slowly forced them out, cracking his elbows. He would need his arms here and figured he might as well do his form of getting them more limber. Then he did some quick and simple stretches all around before entering the combat arena.

Upon entering, he raised his free arm in the air to get some applause, then knowing he might as well put on a show, forced some of his chaotic energy out as a circular explosion. The ground around him rippled, throwing out some dust and giving a display of power. Then he simply looked towards the other side of the arena, waiting for his opponent.

((Energy -2))

[Raiden Matsutani]

Well…this is the second exam…

Those words repeatedly ran through Raiden’s head as he got ready in his locker room. This was in fact his second Combat Exam. Even though this was his second one…frankly Raiden isn’t going to count the first one. The first one his opponent mysteriously disappeared from his locker room. Annoyingly…the first thing that came out of people’s mouths was that Raiden murdered his opponent… That comment really annoyed Raiden for one thing. It kind of made him want to attack who ever said it, but it just isn’t who he is. There wasn’t any need to fret over that again at least. He’s got a new opponent now and hopefully this one won’t disappear beneath the crack like the last one.

Raiden stretched for awhile and repeatedly cracked his knuckles which was getting to be a bad habit. Raiden checked his blade one more time and tied it to his back. He then checked his silver clawed gauntlet slowly forming a fist over and over again. The most important thing that Raiden continuously focused on was the continual stretching of his legs. He made sure he could get a lot speed out of them today. Not eating before a fight only made Raiden feel much more lighter on his feet than usual. That was just about it. Only thing he needed to worry about was remembering his own attacks. With that Raiden headed out the locker room doors into the huge area.

As he walked out on to the field Raiden had felt the recent rise in power for a few seconds. It seemed his opponent was already bearing his fangs. Raiden wasn’t going to follow in the same fashion. He just didn’t feel like it what so ever. Such things would only happen in the mist of battle. Now to wait for things to start... He hoped at some point in time of the exam…the crowd would calm down some…all this yelling was annoying.

[Chephros]

((Meant to post but times been against me))

The sound brought back memories of several years ago, fighting in the demonic realms for fun with the loud roar of everything around. He missed that sensation, but Chephros knew that right here it would be best to just start fighting. Even if it was pre-emptive, it would be best to start. Some may call him rash, some may call him stupid, he called himself impatient. And so, without further hesitation, he started walking calmly towards his opponent with his triple bladed wrist blade in front of him, arcing from his left ribcage to his right shoulder.

Walking, the gap closer in the case, was very odd. The place was like a Colloseum and so it was a round fighting area, but that hardly mattered. What did matter was it was a clear area for people to fight in without hitting walls. Stopping, he looked at his opponent. Chephros had to think really fast, why exactly was he walking? So, having been wearing his armored clothes, he unfurled his wings from his back and jumped up to take to the skies, only being twenty/twenty five feet off the ground though, and the swooped towards his opponent, doing a head on charge with his blade now sideways in front of him to block any possible attack.

Right now he was just hoping his opening attack would be fine, that they wouldn't need some official start. The crowd hadn't quieted down yet, as they hadn't been given time, so the roar still continued, albeit it would most likely quiet down very soon now that the fight was starting.

((Sorry for using the crowd but thats what I figured would happen))

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden looked at his opponent from across the ring. It was that other demon he met a while back. Raiden couldn't tell if their meeting was pleasant or otherwise. Well, either way it doesn't matter now. Its not like they're fighting just for the fun of it...well...at least Raiden think so. Frankly, Raiden feels he's completely wrong. Not just about his opponent, but about himself as well.

Just as he was getting to wrapped up in his thoughts the crowd's noise behavior grew immensely as someting happened. Hm? Raiden looked across the ring to see his opponent had broken in a run soon going into flight in Raiden's direction. Already? They didn't even say fight...how bothersome...

Without a seconds thought Raiden go into it as well. With the opponent heading overhead directly towards him Raiden would only match head on. Raiden with all his strength and speed launched himself off the ground towards his dive bombing opponent. His claws were in front of him ready to strike. Of course Raiden started to think ahead some. Seeing how his opponent has those arm blades he would most likely use them to defend himself. When he does so Raiden would quickly draw his katana and strike his shoulder.

[Chephros]

Flying was fun, especially when the flying would lead to combat, and so Chephros was pretty much enjoying himself. Being quite strange, he had completely missed seeing the official in the center of the ring. It was a good thing he was flying and not charging straight forward or he would have rammed the dude, and that would not have been good. His wrist blade was still diagonally in front of him, ready to block any incoming attacks. At the moment he was head long charging, but on a whim he flapped hard and curved upwards.

Why should he give his opponent an advantage like that?

Close combat while flying wasn't good when the enemy was also on the ground in a defensive form. It left the flyer open too much. So he took to the skies even more, flying to forty feet up, then fifty. He was literally in and out of the arena at the same time. Magic would be hard to use now as it would take a movement of some kind to use unless it was telepathic and instant, but even then it would have to move. His opponent hopefully wasn't insanely strong otherwise he could just use something insanely strong really fast to down his enemy....but this was a combat test, not an underdog fight, the other demon wasn't that strong was he?

Flapping his wings, Chephros hung still in the air, looking down on his opponent. He was ready with his death spike ability in his mind to block an incoming attack, and then act like he had been hit. He would use his wings to fall in front of his opponent, and hopefully absorb the blow enough to still attack, then surprise his enemy. That would be his tactic. He knew how to fake being dead well enough. He had a decent lung capacity and could hold his breath for roughly a minute and a half. Still, from a fall it would be impossible to perceive a fake like that. Now all he had to do was wait for his enemy, and either take a hit, or dodge it. It all depended on what happened.

So many confusing possibilities, only one course though.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden missed completely when his opponent made a sudden turn upwards evading Raiden's attack. Damn...if only I could fly... That was the problem, either Raiden couldn't fly or he just didn't know a good method of how to fly. He'd learn sooner or later, but not now...figuring out how to deal with this flying opponent wasn't going to be easy.

It wasn't like fighting a dragon, because those things have no agility in the skies. Smaller targets got better agility. Even if this guy wasn't fast he's high enough to see many attack coming. The only attack that can suffice is an instant attack. Well...then maybe lightning would be appropiate. Raiden didn't know if it was classified as an instant attack or not, but its always quick and for certain will hit its mark...especially if the opponent is wearing some type of metal.

Without any further thought Raiden pointed at the opponent and released a lightning bolt. If the guy hand any type of metal on him, he best do something to defend or most likely he'll be struck regardless if he tries to dodge. Raiden was hoping to start out the fight with forcing his opponent into a corner, from there Raiden would take things to another level at least until the officials stop him.

((En: -1))

[Chephros]

Ahh yes, lighting, the element of speed and electricity. Absolutely perfect. Now he had the attack and the reason to fall. Of course there was a problem. What was that problem? Well, he did have metal on, and a good bit of it. Now, there was also the good thing about that, meaning he could redirect it when it ran through his body. So, what he did was let his arm flail out to aim at the highest object, which happened to be part of the arena, and when the lightning hit him he jolted backwards in midair, the force hitting him hard in the chest and the lightning oddly just hit him. Flying, he looked down to see the lightning flashing in between the small plates in between the cloth on his clothes. Then of course it finally hit him and the nerve shock went into play, making him fall. So much for the redirection.

So he was falling with a locked up and freefalling form. That wasn't too bad. However it called for a change of plans. His body was spiraling down and so as he fell he simply held his wings out hard after the nerve shock ended. It hurt like all hell with the wind force against it, but as he did so his body pulled up hard and shot in a low arc. His body was now aimed to tackle his enemy and he had his wrist blade out to block the katana if it were to try and come in. Holding it out, he knew that even if it hit it would likely bounce against the metal plates in his armored clothes. If the tackle hit, it would likely knock the lung from his enemies throat. Chephros, in his enjoyment of fighting, wasn't paying attention to the fact that he knew his demon opponent. Also, if and when he knocked down his enemy, he would make sure his legs were in contact with his enemies, and his arms were near the upper arm of his enemies, then create his death spikes to pierce the flesh. This of course was if he tackled him. If he missed he would swoop past and move about seventy feet away this time, but hovering only eight feet from the ground.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Contact...

The lightning bolt hits its target dead on without any struggle what so ever. There was no attempt at evasion so that left a question mark on Raiden's mind. Even though the lightning hit it did have some good effects. Having that metal armor on would burn and singe anything beneath it thanks to the heat the lightning provided. The guy's nerves would be all up in a bunch as well. So it was understandable the guy fell into a free fall. Raiden was skeptical the guy would be out of it though.

Raiden was correct on that asumption. The guy broke out into another mad dive towards Raiden. Raiden this time decided to stick to the ground for a defense. So, he did something unexpected and sheathed his katana. Just as the guy came in for a tackle, Raiden would grab hold of the guy and do an over the back throw using the guy's falling force against him.

[Chephros]

So the guy was going to stop using his blade and instead try to grab him? That was an interesting move. Seeing as he was chest level when grabbed he would still slam into the demon's chest and force him back, possibly knock him over anyway, because he had the momentum from the dive, via gravity, and then he had been flying downwards as well near the end, upping his speed as well, as well as pulling the arc of and making wind force add to his momentum. Inertia was a bitch to get through, and with Chephros weighing over 80 pounds more than Raiden, that would be insane to do. His inertia basically put him downwards and against Raiden, Raiden wanted Chephros to go up and behind

Even worse, right after full connection had happened, when Chephros still slammed forward into Raiden, the flying demon would release a point blank shockwave even stronger than the one he had used before, and slam Raiden back yet again. If the flip still continued it would be much weaker, and then Chephros would actually grab hold of Raiden's arms and force his feet down to stop his fall. His flying momentum would have to be stopped before the flip could take place, seeing as he would have to be lifted straight up while he had been still trying to do that, aimed to the ground. . Between the grab, the connection, the shockwave, and physics, enacting the flip itself would be hard and taxing, making it easy for the demon to break free and score a good hit or two. How would he score those hits? He had a wrist blade on his right arm and Raiden would be grabbing him with both arms to flip him overhead. Chephros would reach forward and grab Raiden's arms, then rapidly send his wrist blade in at the demon's shoulders, aiming for the joint to disconnect or damage it. If he could do that, one arm would be useless at least. At most, Raiden would have to fight with his feet, torso, and head for the rest of the match, up until he could heal at the Academy Hospital.

(-6 Energy for the Shockwave. 6 left if the fight continues)

[Raiden Matsutani]

Just as Chephros came in for conact Raiden to a second to look at the shiny surface of his wrist blade. It was perfect chance to use it for Second Sight. Raiden in that instance use the shiny surface to catch a vision. In two steps ahead he saw the initial actions that occur in the throw. That was an easy fix really. Instead of turning away as Chephros came for the over the back throw, Raiden instead took the tackle head on. With down force Raiden had arched his back and turned putting Chephros on the bottom. With this move Raiden escaped the crushing force of his opponent. Instead the sudden switch would end up having Chephros crashing into the crash at close range.

The of course the shockwave came along in due time. And it worked as well but since Raiden would be on top now it would only push Raiden off of Chephros and into the air. That at sucked though...big time...the initial shock itself went into Raiden's chest. It was kind of like getting hit with a cannon ball...or however that felt. Raiden would end up landing a few meters away from his opponent from across the ring.

((EN: -1))

[Chephros]

Nice move really. It in turn screwed them both over. During the flip though, Chephros still sent his blade up and kept stabbing while they were together until he released the shockwave. Then they split. However, Chephros immediately dug his tail into the ground. As long as the fog covered the stone, it was impossible to break it. So, the crystal jagged along the ground, gouging a line through and stopping him quickly while his opponent flew away. The cuts on his face stung like mad while the rest of his body was fine. His arms had minor cuts on them, but he was still all good. So, he got up, shook his body a little, felt the demonic regeneration kick in and heal the minor cuts on his face and then felt his stomach flip over from a relapse of the down force of the flying.

Almost crumpling, his anger now came to bear and he was extremely ticked off. Normally it helped him, but now he was just bloodthirsty and that wasn't good. He would keep going now, even if it meant bodily self destruction. Wasn't that fun? No, not really. So he simply charged forward, using his wings as backward force for the moment to straight ram Raiden. He had taken a bad fall it seemed both from the tackle, and from the shockwave, and was probably recovering by this point. Still, he was moving quite fast. Chephros pulled his right arm back and then, when 10 feet away, forced it forward hard. It would be a straight slash at the shoulders again, to damage them further. After that he would use the side momentum to kick upwards at Raiden's chest with his foot.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden decisively landed on his feet as planned from the stage. Chephros was an the other side so it gave Raiden some time to grather himself up again. That shockwave wasn't a very likable attack at close range. Raiden would play thing froma distance then, hopefully tiring the guy out trying to chase him. Raiden was going to be conservative with using his energy. Only waiting for the right times to attack.

Gaining back his composure Raiden readied himself just as his opponent went into attack mode agian. Just as Chephros got ten feet away Raiden dodged quickly. The whole attack was evaded entirely. Raiden would grab both of Chepros feet as he flew past and hopefully slam the guy into the ground. If the guy hit the ground as planned Raiden would release him quickly and jump back following up with another quick lightning bolt but this time an open palmed one causing more damage hopefully from the flurry of lightning bolts released.

[Chephros]

As Raiden dodged(Although I don't know how since you didn't specify anything there), Chephros leaped up and flapped his wings to gain altitude, then immediately folded them and dropped downward. Still in a standing position, he hit the ground and rolled to reduced momentum then shot to the left, or his right, and ran at Raiden again, pumping arms and legs quickly. Smirking, he aimed to miss this time, albeit he had a plan to hit anyway. This would defy future sight if it happened, as although it was a feint, it wouldn't look like it at all. Chephros wouldn't even attack, he would simply run forward and aim to tackle Raiden again. While he would do that he would also continue to use his wrist blades to pierce the other demon's shoulders, but that wouldn't be the main thing. For now he would wait until he hit or missed. If he missed the tackle though, and Raiden moved to Cheph's right, he would shoot out his blade to cut something. If Raiden dodged to Cheph's left, Chephros would hit the ground, roll, and try again.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden missed the chance to grag Chephros legs, but didn't make anything of it. Instead he waited for the guy to make his next move. He had to admit it didn't take to long as the guy stopped flying and instead now turned to run at Raiden. Stopping for from flying at a speed like that should take time though judging on his weight in combination with those weapons and armor. So that gave Raiden time to think again.

Just as Chephros was a few feet as Raiden took noticed again that his opponent was putting his wrist up in the same fashion as always. It didn't seem like a change of strategy at first glance. Raiden dodge backwards though just as Chephros tried the tackle scheme again. Two flips backwards once again at a considerable distance away from his opponent. Raiden then held out a finger again and shot off another lightning bolt towards Chephros. The same effect would happen as last time with the guy's metal on him.

((EN: -1))