Sparring Match: Tidus v Kuradic

[Kaitou]

The Pillars of Illumination… Its residents have yet to give it a name, although Oskar, a prominent member, had suggested the name earlier. The structure exists further than the distinct white towers in the center. Circling the hub is a number of buildings, each with its own purpose.

One building in particular has a unique function. Within it lies a spherical room, used primarily for observing the heavens. The room is able to produce three-dimensional images and may even give the holograms physical form.

In the center lies a small machine operated by two glowing orbs. One can simply place his palms upon them to manipulate the mechanism. By doing so, the person can search the stars or manifest his imagination.

~*~*~*~

By the time the two members of SoI arrived, Takai was already operating the device. Particles of light fluttered to and fro, keeping up with the many images cycling through Takai's mind. The particles would stop momentarily to display the current scene in Takai's head before shifting around as he thought of another scene. The images ranged from vast empty plains to endless dark abysses.

Takai removed his hands from the machine. He had finally decided. The three found themselves standing in space nearby a magnificent golden planet. In truth, they were still standing on the room's platform, though it looked as though they were suspended. Around them were floating rocks of varying sizes. The rocks formed a sort of ring around the planet. They moved relatively slow, the smaller ones at a slightly faster speed than those with more mass.

Facing the two, Takai spoke, "Well, this should be suitable. Best of luck to the two of you." With that he casually left the room. The instant the doors closed, the platform beneath their feet disappeared and the two landed on the rocks below them. At their distance from the planet, gravity still had its influence, though it did permit them to leap considerable lengths. The translucent boundaries of the room faded away. The room was capable of simulating infinite space to an extent by shifting the contents within it should a person get near its boundaries.

An awkward silence followed.

[Kuradic]

Kuragari stared into the seemingly endless darkness. His eyes wondered across the enviroment, studying the details. Kuragari smiled sinisterly, and unsheathed his sword. His blade was glowing with darkness, but a darkness different from the vast space that surrouned him. "If you won't make your move, I shall" Kuragari bent his legs, and placed his left hand at the edge of the rock from which he stood. He leaned his body weight forward and sprung from the rock towards Caharin. With a simple flick of his sword he sent Tsurugi's energy at his chest.

[joesteel64]

After Caharin landed on the rocks below he began to study his suroundings. After a time, he heard the distant voice of Kuragari and the power of Tsurugi bolting toward him. Caharin dodged Kuragari's attack, and threw himself into the maelstrom of the fury of the Blade of Truth, unleashing his battle cry, "Dance with me death, for I am ready." He then slashed at Kuragari. This would be a good fight.

[Kuradic]

Quite agile, Kuragari thought as his opponent dodged his attack. Kuragari smiled in amusement as he saw his opponent lunged toward him. Kuragari, breathed in letting the air fill his lungs. He listened to the sharp sound of his blading sliding its way into his sheath. "Can you hit what you cannot see? Kuragari jumped up above caharin's attack and floated out into the sea of darkness. He covered his body with the darkness that tainted his soul, and was taken in with the rest. He laughed, the small amounts of gravity guided his movements. "Darkness, isn't it amazing? After all, the closer you are to the light, the bigger your shadow is. Embrace the darkness, because no matter where you are, it...will....find you."

[joesteel64]

Caharin sheathed his blade and pulled out his smaller, more easily manuverable dacras, and began to scan the darkness for his opponent. While he was searching an unusually colored rock he began to ponder Kuragari's cryptic words. "The closer you are to light, the bigger your shadow becomes? I think I know how to uncover him." He put his dacras away and listened to the hiss of the white-hot blade as he pulled it from his sheath. He held the blade in front of him and became one with his power, using it to encase the the surounding space rocks in blinding white light. "I can see you Kuragari, now make your move!" The very air around Caharin seemed to crackle with electricity.

[Kuradic]

Kuragari watched as Caharin lit the rocks floating among the field. The light was indeed bright, the darkness that surrounded him had crawled away revealing his location. Kuragari landed softly on one of the glowing rocks. The moment his feet touched the rock, its glow was diminished. “So you aren’t as weak as I thought,” he said. “Ah, much better.” Kuragari let loose his power and engulfed his left hand in darkness. He released the energy toward Caharin. The energy snakes through the rocks, obliterating them, and approached Caharin.

[joesteel64]

Caharin knew this was no ordinary lightning; this was lightning come from the deths of the underworld. Most of Caharin's holy magic was used up, and he knew it. in fact, the only way Caharin would be able to counter the attack he reasoned, woul be to use underworld magic. The spirits of the sword would hae to be called forth for the magi to be countered. Caharin immediately began to search the depths of his mind for the core of spiritual energy inhabiting it, for only spirits can speak to spirits. Caharin found his power, and cried to the spirits, "Come to me clouds of death! Come to me in my hour of need!" As he finished his statement, The very air around him seemed to shatter, and there was thunder with no sound. The sword began to turn black, and the dark lightning became attarcted to it, condensing into an orb. Caharin swung his sword at Kuragari, and loosed the energy. he imediately began to prepare himself for a possible counter-attack.

[Kuradic]

Kuragari watched, slightly impressed, Caharin once again use his power with great effectiveness. As Caharin had absorbed Kuragari’s attack into his sword and sent it back, but in a different form. Kuragari quickly sheathed his sword as the ball of energy hurtled toward him. Kuragari stood upon the rock and held out his hands. Kuragari held his left arm in front of his chest, and tightened the muscles within it. The ball of energy approached and Kuragari held his place. Bam! The ball had connected with his arm. Kuragari attempted to keep still, but although his legs had the will to stand, the rock didn’t. Slowly the sheer power of the energy had even crushed the rock beneath Kuragari. No longer having the means to stop, Kuragari was swept through the sky as easily as paper in the wind. He turned his arm the left letting the energy hurtle into another direction, but force spun Kuragari into another rock. His back felt hard rocky surface as he landed onto on of the space rocks.

Kuragari held his left arm in front in front of his eyes and smiled. He slowly stood up as his legs struggled to move. His left arm felt a warm running liquid. The blood flowed down his arm like a small stream. He drew his Tsurugi with his right hand and placed the tip onto the wound. As the blood touched the sword, it emitted a red glow. As larger amounts of blood was soaked into the sword, the glow grew larger and larger. After a few seconds the glow burned with the tainted darkness that possessed his soul. It wrapped around his sword shaking it wildly in his hand. His right arm felt a surge of dark energy flow through like electricity. He breathed in heavily as he felt his power grow.

Kuragari slashed at the rock below him; as it shattered he swung his blade back and generated dark energy at the base of his sword. He swung his sword forward. As the sword came forward, the momentum dragged the energy to the top and released it with much greater force. The energy crashed through the rocks with much greater force, not even leaving a pebble of the rock behind. The shot however was not aimed for Caharin, but for the rock on which Caharin stood!

[joesteel64]

Caharin watched, impressed, as Kuragari sent the mass of power through the rocks. He was pleased that he had managed to wound his opponent, and decided to spend a moment to bask in his joy, letting its warmth suffuse him. When he snapped back to cold reality, the energy was much closer and gaining speed. Caharin realized hat he had violated the third of he wizard's three rules; he let he passion and desire to relax in his pride and joy overrule his reason which told him to keep moving, and not to stop. The consequences of violating this rule could be dire.

Caharin began running, gaining a small lead that quickly diminished. The energy caught Caharin after a time, causin th rock beneath hsi feet to explode, the energy flinging Caharin into a distant rock. Caharin took a moment to assess his injuries. he had several minor scrapes and bruises, as well as a nasty cut on his right hand.

Caharin began moving quicly among the rocks, always staying on the far side, so as not to be seen by Kuragari. As he rounded the last rock, he loosed a savage war cry and stabbed at Kuragari's midsection. The look on his enemy's face told Caharin that he had caught his opponent off gaurd with the wizard's first rule; people will believe anything that they want to be true or that they are afraid might be. As the swords met in mid-air, Caharin spun away, and launched another attack at his opponents head. Caharin continued to force his enemy to fight in hand to hand combat.

[Kuradic]

Kuragari watched as Caharin leaped from rock to rock. “As if you could hide from me,” he thought. Kuragari placed his sword behind him again, preparing for Caharin. But with great and unexpected speed, his opponent had driven his blade into his mid-section. The blade easily pierced his fragile human skin with such speed. Kuragari staggered back, and felt the edges of the rock beneath his feet. He looked up, dazed and bewildered. The pain was intense, nearly unbearable. His mouth opened as a ball of blood forced its way out, and onto the rock. He looked up onto Caharin as he leaped back for another attack. Kuragari tried to maneuver, but the pain kept him from focusing. He knew Caharin was coming at him, but he didn’t know from where. From Kuragari’s eyes Caharin moved from side to side in mid-air. As Caharin’s blade came nearer to his eyes, the three swords he imagined became one. Kuragari leaned back, but Caharin’s speed had caught him again. His opponents blade cut his left cheek giving him that slight extra push, forcing Kuragari off the rock, and sent him plunging into the ocean of darkness.

Kuragari continued to fall, his mind trying to get to the point of being focused. He looked up to see the rock where he once stood fading away, slowly, silently. He continued to fall, in what seemed to be an eternity. “This can’t be the end,” he thought. Kuragari reached his left hand out as a desperate attempt to grab something, to save himself from the abyss. His body swung into a hard surface, increasing the pain that already ran through his entire body. He slowly, but with great agony, pulled himself up onto the rock.

“I have to end this, I have to end this now!” Kuragari’s mind became focused as he felt a warm touch on his chest. Grasping his chest, he could feel the blood at the tip of his fingers. A sudden thought came to Kuragari. He ripped off his bloodstained shirt wrapped it around his Tsurugi. He slowly slid his shirt across the blade, shining it with the crimson color of blood. As he reached the tip of the sword he threw his shirt into darkness of space. He grasped his sword with both hands and held it in front of his face. “Wahhhhh!” Kuragari screamed as the blade shook wildly. The blood was slowly absorbed into the sword like a sponge. Energy sparks flew from the base of the sword, singeing Kuragari’s hands with fiery darkness. As the last of the blood was absorbed his hands rested, but not very long, Kuragari immediately grasped his sword again and made his way to the top using the rocks provided around him.

Kuragari started to see the rock where he fell from, and with it…Caharin! Kuragari hurled himself toward the rock, letting space guide his way. “Take this!” he cried as he swung his blade to the side, releasing a large wave of energy toward Caharin.

[joesteel64]

As Caharin's blade pierced Kuragari's form, his mind exploded with the influx of magical energy threatening to consume him. When the shiny orb of Kuragari's blood splattered on the rock, little flecks of the dark red fluid landed on Caharin's shoes. That stain will never come out, Caharin thought with disgust. He tried to push the presence from his mind so he could concentrate on the task ahead; the elimination of his oppoonent. Caharin grasped the hilt of his sword with both hands, relishing the feel of the chill bite of the hilt's metal. he brought his sword over hs head, intending to cleave his opponent in half. Kuragari was too fast however and leaned back as the sword curved downward in a menacing yet stunningly magnificient arc of death. The sword caught Kuragari's cheek, propelling him off of the rock and into the grimy, depths of space.

Caharin knew that his opponent wasn't dead, and would recover soon. Caharin began casting large webs of light in a effort to illuminate his opponent. His spells turned up nothing however, and Caharin began to despair, for his opponent's strength was rebuilding. Caharin started to pray to his deities for a way to send his opponent to death's keeper. "Please spirits, aid me in this. I beseech you, grant me your blessing, and give me my hearts desire; help me defeat the evil one!" The spirits denied him however, and one appeared in Caharin's mind "you must do this on your own. This is not the fight of the spirits. If you can defeat him, we will help you conquer the kingdom of you choice. Farewell."

As the apparition dissipated Caharin's mind filled with resolve. He would defeat his opponent, and gain the blessing of the gods. Caharin began to brainstorm a way to reveal his opponent. He realized the flaw in his plan; instead of using several large nets that took up a lot of energy, he could cast many small orbs of light. That would, in the end, cover more space. As Caharin cast the thirteenth orb, he saw something out of the corner of his eye, a large mass of energy was hurtling toward him. Kuragari had recovered his strength and had released a large portion of it.

Caharin readied his attack for there wasn't much time, the energy would reach soon. Caharin enchanted one of his dacras with both shadow and holy magic and flung it at the dark form of his opponent. he then ducked in matrix-like fashion, but was too slow. The energy met with his hand, and two of his fingers were severed at the second digit. The air was rent with Caharin's ear-spliiting shriek of agony. Caharin sank to his knees and began to nurse what was left of his fingers. The rage of his magic consumed him. He let the magic consume every fiber of his being. When ready, he ran to the edge of the rock, and launched himself at his opponent.

[Kuradic]

((OOC: If you take a break that long, and come back with such an excellent post, I have no problem with you taking long. However, you aren’t the only one who has improved. ^__^))


Kuragari had been dealt a nearly fatal blow, but retaliated with great force. He had sent a large amount of energy at Caharin, but at the sacrifice of his own blood. As his attack neared his opponent he noticed a small glimmering light. From past his own attack, Caharin had sent back one of his own, mixed with holy and dark energy. “Not this time,” he thought. Kuragari placed his hand on the rock, and started to decrease the length between him and the edge of the floating rock. As he neared the edge a similar surge flowed through him. His knees felt the rocky surface as he fell to the ground. His head face fell down as his muscles could no longer even keep his head straight, his hands fell as well stopping as his palms stopped him. Kuragari rolled over in pain and placed his left hand on his side where the wound lay. He screamed in agony as the pain surged through his whole body. He felt an unusual warmth from beneath his back. Rolling over slight and turning his head, he saw his wound pouring out blood onto the ground. Every breath he took seemed like Caharin’s blade had caught him again. “Crap,” he thought as he remembered the energy approaching him, but this time his time to react was limited. He swept his blade across the floor, splitting the red liquid midway. He knew he couldn’t absorb all of it in time; knowing this he laid back again so as to face his opponent’s attack. Tsurugi beat again as the blood was absorbed. Hastily Kuragari swung his blade, above his chest, forward and pointed it so the side.

A shriek was heard as the energy made contact with Kuragari’s blade. This shriek however, was not Kuragari’s. As both his energy and Caharin’s met, it seemed that his opponent screamed in pain. To Kuragari however, that was of no importance at the moment. The weight and force of his attack was crushing his body, he clenched his teeth as more blood spewed from his side. Right now Kuragari was like a sponge, the blood was being squeezed out, and at an excessive rate. With great fortune, the rock beneath him gave in, and Kuragari was sent plunging downward once again. As he fell the energy continued to pursue him, obliterating any obstacle that stood within its path.

Swinging his body upright, Kuragari faced the attack, sword ready. He placed his sword next to his leg, point facing downward. “Don’t underestimate me!” and with this he swung his blade forward and made contact. His hand shook wildly as he tried to maintain grip with his sword. Using the momentum gathered with his swing, Kuragari sent Caharin’s attack toward the space to his left. Kuragari could his heart beating slower as he breathed slowly. This small amount of rest however was diminished, Caharin, with the element of surprise and speed, sent his blade across his chest, splitting his skin apart. The pain was intense, more then any human could bear. Along with the new gash across his chest, Caharin had sent him crashing through several rocks. By the time he landed a dark, thick liquid covered his whole body. The blood ran down parts of his body, and trickled down others.

Kuragari lay silent………