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Post by Rime on Oct 20, 2018 11:25:08 GMT -8
Intro posts as needed.
10 posts per person
Will need a Judge at the end
Story Version is on...I guess? Not sure it matters here. Both are V5 so I assume they are on par with each other. Because of that, I assume Version Bonus is also irrelevant.
----------------------------------- While chilly, mostly thanks to a brisk breeze flowing through, the area was quite striking. It resembled being out in lands untouched by civilization. While largely flat, there were many rolling hills coated in emerald grass surrounding the field in view. There was also a scattering of trees through the field and hills, and starting from the west a ribbon of water cut through the scene, adding a soft burble to the voice of the wind in the area.
Suddenly a sharp sound resembling a screech pierced the serene setting. Near one of the trees by the water one could see two over sized mushrooms near a lone figure standing across from them. Slowly the mushrooms seemed to dissolve into streams of data that began to float away on the winds, leaving the figure standing alone watching the sky. One thing that can't be helped with expansion, is the difficulty of maintaining an increases amount of space. And while there were always those that were capable, or even enjoyed the hunting of viruses, it was almost fighting a losing battle as their numbers never seemed to dwindle entirely.
The lone figure shook its head, the cloak hanging off its shoulders swaying slightly from the motion. If one were able to see its face under the helm, a look of disappointment could be found on its visage. "Unsatisfying. Quite unfortunate." While at least profitable, so far the viruses in this area were also lack luster in strength. The navi had hoped this would help scratch the itch of combat that always seemed to linger, but was let down once again. After another moment or two. he moved to collect the lingering data the viruses had left behind. The city was nearby, and he had to go there for information soon anyway. Or, if nothing else, maybe he could find something to help curb this craving he had.
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Post by Warrior on Oct 20, 2018 12:36:17 GMT -8
(Post Tracker: 1/1 Opening)
"Well looky who I've finally found."
As Rime went to collect the virus' data, he'd hear a voice from behind him. He'd turn to look, but see nobody was there.
But when his gaze went back to the data, there stood a blue-haired girl with a red mask and black jumpsuit next to it, arms crossed and displeasure on the parts of her face not hidden by the mask. Shine's long red scarf blew in the wind in such a way that it almost looked like it would wrap itself around the data of the deleted virus that was now culminating into a white sphere beside her.
"Wouldn't it just ruin your plans if someone decided toooo, I don't know.... steal this?"
She was still clearly a little bitter about the last time they met. And she did say she'd get him back for that.
Uncrossing her arms, Shine reached out and took the lingering data that was floating there. It dissolved into her body as she took ownership of it, blatantly "kill stealing" it off of Rime, one could say.
"And now we're even. Ciao!"
Suddenly chirpy and happy again, Shine took Rime's spoils and walked off toward the town with the clear intent that this would be the end of their engagement. She seemed quick to forgive, but all was fair in the end: he wrecked her plans in the grove that one day, and now she'd wreck his. An eye for an eye, as it were.
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Post by Rime on Oct 20, 2018 16:46:19 GMT -8
As he spun to catch sight of the owner of the voice, he mind wandered to why the voice seemed familiar. He whirled back around once he saw the voice was no longer behind him and was instead gathering the remains of the viruses that had just perished. It took a moment before it clicked, but he did recall seeing her before out in some grove awhile back. That had been long enough ago though, that he figured she had forgotten their encounter, as he had until now himself.
"A long held a grudge?" It was just a statement he spoke out loud to himself, though his tone did sound it off as a question to her. She hadn't really ruined a plan per say, so he wasn't exactly angry, but the principle of taking the spoils of another's hunt was unsavory. "Unsure of what plans you speak of. Though taking another hunters spoils is rude at best." As if to accentuate his words, the chill in the air would seem to become more apparent to the other, frosty mist slowly drifting around her.
While she had started to walk away he began to slowly step towards her as well, not wanting to let her get to far off before he could determine if she would continue to try to leave or stop at his words. His ice coated hand seemed to start to glow with a faint purple energy as the ice darkened to more of an opaque black color. He didn't strike out quite yet. Though one could definitely tell he was gathering energy to do so if needed, a swirl of snow starting to drift out from the bottom of his cloak and dance around him up towards the sky before being blown away. "If you had wanted a rematch, you just need ask." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Technically Combat Post 1/10
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Post by Warrior on Oct 20, 2018 17:22:24 GMT -8
(Post Tracker: 1/10 Battle)
"Rude at best", Shine smiled to herself as she heard that.
She simply continued walking at first, but feeling Rime's icey presence not far behind, she kept an eye on the shadow that his body was casting thanks to the setting sun. A lower sun meant bigger shadows, which was useful for her at least -- more places to hide. She came to a halt when he had mentioned a rematch though.
"I suppose the score isn't truly settled until we settle it right."
Still smiling, she spun around to accept Rime's challenge. Had he been paying too much attention to her smile though, he'd miss the nonchalant flick of her wrist that sent three shurikens flying his way, and that's the only heads up he'd get since his own shadow was enough to conceal the blades mid-flight while the wind covered for what little sound they made.
"Oh, but no leg-stabs this time. Those are rude at least."
If nothing else, it was convenient that he never threw the first punch. Shine remembered him for being really good at taking her own punches though, so if he'd gotten any tougher since they'd last crossed paths then it'd be more than a chore to hit him with anything that'd leave a mark. There was only one way to know for sure, of course.
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Post by Rime on Oct 20, 2018 18:46:59 GMT -8
He was mildly surprised she had stopped, given how quick she was to come and try to go already. He noted the motion she made, but lost track of the projectiles on their path to him. He made no motion to move to evade, or even stop their flight to him, not entirely worried about the damage they would deal based on their previous encounters. To his surprise though, they seemed to cut much deeper than he had expected and gave off a mild grunt of pain as he looked down to see them in a neat triangle formation jutting from his chest. He hadn't really realized how much of a difference it would make against a real opponent, finally having started to use that strange scepter he had come across in the past.
"If you are quick as you believe, you should be fine." He knew he needed to make use of some of his less savory tools to equalize the energy through his body to make use of everything properly. But he didn't exactly want to win because of some paltry tools he had picked up on his path to find himself. His hand covered in the now black ice shimmered as something seemed to emerge from his palm. The head of the strange scepter almost seemed to consume some of the light head his hand, casting even more shadow from that arm, as dark orbs of data started to swirl around that arm.
"Pardon." That single word seemed to have a strange echo to it as the orbs condensed into a single larger sphere, pulsating before lowering to the ground and shifting shapes repeatedly. At first it appeared to take the form of a large shadowy vulcan, then immediately shifted to a sleek cannon with a scope on it, neither firing a round. Just as quick it shifted forms again, this time taking on the appearance of a needle like appendage sparkling with electricity. The head of the scepter showing from his palm started to emit dark flames as the needle shifted to what looked like a large rock, though the rock shifted into the shape of a scythe as the flames died away. The process finished, the scepter head retreated into his arm once more, the scythe vanishing, and the ice on his arm returning to its normal hue.
The display was strange most likely to the onlooker, not a single attack made towards her, but still a sharp chill ran up her spine as his attention seemed to shift from what ever he was doing to her once more. The snow that continued to swirl around him seemed to slowly become more like shards of ice rather than soft snow, a sign he had yet to stop gathering energy for something.
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Post by Warrior on Oct 20, 2018 19:32:16 GMT -8
(Post Tracker: 2/10 Battle)
"Hmm?"
Shine cocked her head slightly at the depth of the cuts that her shurikens made. In the past, those would leave little more than paper cuts, and they hadn't exactly gotten sharper or anything since then. So did Rime get softer instead? It was an interesting thing to make note of as she continued watching him cycle through his dark weapons before her eyes.
"New toys, I see. Scared to play with them? Or are you just in an extra pacifist mood today?"
Shine never meant any offense with her comments, but loved to tease with her words whenever she was given the chance. All teasing aside though, she took it particularly serious that Rime hadn't struck back yet, and no doubt was it going to hurt when he finally finished gathering whatever energy he'd been holding onto up until now.
She didn't let it distract her too much, however. After all, she never showed him all of the tricks she held up her own sleeves either, and contrary to initial assumption, she did have a solution to most anything that he could throw at her. In her mind, at least.
"Makes me wonder though: did you find those in that bamboo grove where you stabbed me?"
He wasn't wrong when he'd assumed her of having a long held grudge. Not wrong in the slightest.
Having spent enough time waiting for him to move, Shine finally decided she'd just press the offensive again if he insisted on allowing it. The frigid air had normally slowed her down in the past, but her body had adjusted to it much more quickly than before. Rime would be quick to notice this as she pounced toward him rather swiftly, unsheathing her sword from the holster behind her butt while midair and then landing down with a graceful chop.
Several more elegant cuts of her sword would search for a mark on his body as she spun between each swing, not unlike a charming dancer moving her own body to a rather dashing rhythm. It was difficult on the eyes to separate the red sword from the red scarf that would chase behind her betwixt each twirl, but overall the attacks weren't nearly as threatening as they were beautiful to behold.
"If so, then they should be mine, you know."
And at the end of it all, she stood heals together, one hand behind her back, and sword pointed to Rime as though she were a fencer now waiting for his strike. Whether she truly viewed a fight as though it were just a masquerade ball or not, she certainly had the showmanship for it.
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Post by Rime on Oct 21, 2018 14:15:53 GMT -8
"No. To both." Toys? She had a strange idea of what those things were he had utilized to regulate the energy in his body. And was that what she was doing in the grove? She definitely wasn't hunting, given the noise she made while there. Was that why she seemed to hold this grudge so long?
His thoughts were interrupted as her blade sang forth through the air, slicing through him cleanly with each stroke. The energy was still settling, and thus he still hadn't quite had the normal tools he would use to help defend against the strikes, but luckily she wasn't quite as deadly as some others he had fought. While damaged fairly so far, ice seemed to fill each wound that had been slowly leaking data until now. Noticeably the swirling snow and ice receded some, and the ice in each wound slowly started expanding to coat more of his form giving him an almost armor like sheet of ice across his torso.
While she seemed to use the dark and shadows, he felt she likely didn't aim to kill, which was what these toys wanted to do. Maybe he was wrong about her though. "Doubtful you would even use." His voice had returned to normal after the strange modulation from before, and as soon as he finished speaking, the swirl around him stopped entirely, the snow settling across his icy body. There was a moment of no movement, almost as if he was going to continue the lack of offense. But if she was paying attention to her surroundings, she would note that the winds seemed to stop entirely,followed by a loud cracking sound. The ground surrounding them both seemed to instantly turn to tundra. While frost and ice was forming sporadically around them, a large amount seemed to be focused on the immediate area where she stood. If she wasn't fast enough, the ice would start to try to creep up her boots and legs to lock her in place.
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Post by Warrior on Oct 21, 2018 16:56:54 GMT -8
(Post Tracker: 3/10 Battle)
A sly grin crept up on Shine's face as Rime expressed his doubt that she would ever use such dark weapons, as if non-verbally telling him "Don't be so sure". She held her pose as she watched his body take care of its minor wounds. That was about how she'd expected that to go, really.
"So what did you find in that grove, then?"
Her fascination of that place was plain and clear at this point. Or maybe she just liked bamboos, it was anybody's guess when it came to this girl.
Her playful expression quickly transitioned to wide-eyed and petrified as she looked down to notice the ice slowly creeping up her legs.
"I SAID NO LEG SPIKES!"
Like a cat startled by a wild cucumber, she sprang from her spot in an instant, and like an ambitious kitten trying to score an overkill against the notorious red dot on the wall, her arms became a blur as she slung a countless amount of shurikens at the spot in the ground where she had just been standing.
*~SWI-SWI-SWI-SWI-SWI-SWI-SWI-SWI-SWISH!~*
Ten? Twenty? Fifty? The number of shurikens sticking into the ground now was literally uncountable and yet they still just kept coming! Where was she even holding all of these?!
When she'd finally landed to safety and felt that the ground had officially lost their 1v1, she looked back to Rime with a rather unpleasant frown. Even if those weren't actually spires sent to impale her legs this time, it resembled that attack enough that she'd panicked and thought it was the real deal.
She was a little out of steam after that bout, so she opted not to attack back this time and charge up some of her own energy, indicated by shadowy wisps orbiting around her body. The shurikens sticking in the floor moments ago had now turned to similar shadowy wisps, but those floated away into nothingness, leaving only the bare ground behind.
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Post by Rime on Oct 21, 2018 19:25:11 GMT -8
She seemed to have a real hang up on that last meeting of theirs. Was there really something so interesting in the bamboo? "You. And Bamboo." He wasn't sure what she expected to be there, but there was nothing that interesting that he was aware of there. Maybe she had dropped something there and was hoping he had found it? Her outburst though drew his attention from his thoughts to the flurry of stars that peppered the ground now.
A couple chuckles to himself sounded out from his helm. "Was not a spike." Her reaction was humorous, but as he watched the stars wisp away, and her own gathering of power, he thought better than to assume it was much more than a show. He knew she was a tricky one, and assumed this to be just that.
As she hadn't attempted to strike him again yet, he started to make the first move finally. He took a few quick steps forward, as if he was charging her directly. Instead of closing the distance entirely though, he dropped to a knee half way to her as he slammed his icy fist into the ground. The icy patches of ground closest to the shadowy one shattered, flinging jagged shards directly at her. As he started to stand once more, his visage locked on her, that same chill from before slithered its way up her spine once more.
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Post by Warrior on Oct 22, 2018 15:04:13 GMT -8
(Post Tracker: 4/10 Battle)
Shine braced as Rime started running toward her, but then loosened up again as he stopped to punch the floor.
The ground just couldn't catch a break today.
"Well fine then, I guess I can forgive you."
He was on his knees begging and everything.
Very quickly, however, Shine would realize that that was not at all the reason he dropped to a knee. Dozens of ice shards pelted her as she braced herself again to mitigate what little she could, ending up with a few scrapes and cuts by the end of it but nothing terribly serious at least. Most importantly, her scarf was still unscathed.
The energy swirling around her had completely encompassed her now, not unlike a shadowy aura, signifying the charge was just about completed.
"If you want, I can tell you what was really in the bamboo grove. Doesn't that sound interesting? Hmmm?"
It was official: she was a bamboo fanatic. Case closed.
She stood there, arms crossed and eyes piercing, as if she had given Rime an offer he couldn't possibly refuse. Of course he wouldn't have too much time to decide his response before he noticed movement on the ground just behind her.
A pitch black doppelganger of Shine rose up from her shadow and pounced at him, just like she herself had done moments prior. Almost as if repeating her exact same motion from before, it landed in front of him with a chopping swing from its phantasmal replica of her sword. But unlike her previous chain of dancing cuts that followed, and unlike an average clone for that matter, this shadow-copy dissipated in the wind immediately after its swing in the same manner as her shurikens in the ground had disappeared earlier.
Shine's stance never changed as it all happened. This was one of her newer tricks and she was eager to see how he'd react.
... and of course she was eager for him to answer her question, too.
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