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Post by Hamuu on Dec 12, 2008 18:52:18 GMT -5
Rick had been readying another swing when the foot connected with his chin. Pain exploded in his head, much worse than before. The blow from before still stung and now this new injury on his chin created a vice like sensation, pressure building around his brain.
Pain… How invigorating. Just like old times wouldn’t you agree.
“I told you to **** off,” Rick spat, louder than before not taking into account the others could hear him now.
He’s fast you know, a lot faster than you. You may be part andalite, but our fathers speed was obviously not inherited.
“Don’t talk about my father!”
Ricks aura flared intensely as his rage generated more power for him to feed on. Black energy emanated visibly from the mage, licking at the air like flames. Glowing lines floated around his wrists forming glyphs that pulsed red, yellow, blue, and black.
“Thundara!” Ricks voice boomed.
Orbs of electrical energy formed in his palms though he kept them pointed at the ground.
“Let’s see if this magic fits in more with what you’ve heard.” Rick said as he discharged a continuous stream of electricity from his palms into his shadow. All around them the forest erupted as lightning strikes leapt and crackled out of every shadow, large or small. The trees closest to the two combats erupted into splinters as Rick discharged the most electricity through those shadows, each splinter created its own shadow that spewed forth electricity. Bolts flew chaotically igniting trees and scaring the ground. Beads of sweat formed on Rick’s brow but he refused to stop.
That’s cheating. The voice inside Rick hissed gleefully, Shadowcasting combined with Thundara… No, even better - you’re not spreading it out among each shadow you’re combining all the shadows into a single door; doubling the strength of the attack more times than I can count. I didn’t even know that was possible. It must be tiresome to combine all the shadow-paths into a single one. Why don’t you rest, I’ll take over from here.
“Go… to… Hell…” Rick managed between breaths. He could feel it now, he was struggling to keep the electricity going, but now the monster inside was testing Ricks hold on him.
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Dec 12, 2008 20:25:12 GMT -5
"You know what, no," Yoshimitsu said, concentrating briefly. While one minute he was there, the next he was gone, a blurry image of him left behind. He was immediately stood in front of Miko, his brow furrowed as he concentrated, summoning his power into a barrier around not only him, but the South Pole Summoner behind him. An invisible barrier formed around him, the lightning that Rick was forming simply being absorbed and strengthening the barrier further.
"You know what you're handling now," Yoshimitsu said quickly, aimed at Miko. Again, he vanished, leaving a bluury image and a much weaker barrier in his place, reappearing at Hector's side.
"Don't give me that look, Hec," Yoshimitsu said as Hector looked at him incredulously. "Miko's good, but a helping hand here and there can't hurt. I'm not seeing him lose."
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Post by Hamuu on Dec 13, 2008 17:09:18 GMT -5
See, that’s why cheaters never prosper.
Rick cursed and abandoned his current tactic. The electricity bounding across the island faded leaving a long black scar that stretched from one side to the other. Dotted here and there were piles of burning wood sunk into crater.
“Don’t interfere!” Rick bellowed towards Yoshimitsu before launching himself at Miko.
The glyphs surrounding Rick’s wrist spun wildly as he forced them together. When he was close enough the mage skidded to a halt and yelled, “Demi!”
A black vortex formed in front of the mage spinning violently. Light, air, fire, debris, and everything else around them began to shift and move towards the gaping void. It was slow at first but the speed increased exponentially. Rick steadied himself to keep from losing his balance as large chunks of ground were swallowed up by demi.
What are you doing? You’re stronger than that, you could have sucked up the entire island with that spell. Why are you holding back?
Rick ignored the voice and continued to focus the increasing suction in Mikos direction.
OOC - BTW, El that comment that Yoshi made about being able to handle Rick was a cocky comment right?
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Post by Tout-Perd on Dec 21, 2008 5:01:45 GMT -5
OOC: Oh, screw this. I'm not going to wait to repair my comp to post here.
BIC: Miko raised his hand as if to prepare a spell, only to have Yoshimitsu interpose on his behalf. As the lightning struck the shield, Miko began to craft another spell. Even if somebody else was covering for him, a lull was a lull. Any pause was a chance for further preparations.
"I agree with Rick, at least on that. No more interference, from anybody. I'm trying to accomplish something here, and if I don't do it alone, it's pointless," Miko clenched his fist, the spell congealing into a ring in his palm. As Yoshimitsu moved aside, Miko turned and whispered. "Thanks, though. I owe you one."
Turning back to face Rick, he saw the beginnings of the spell. He didn't feel the first tugs, but soon, the air currents were easy enough to read. The spell was like a miniature vortex, sucking in the things around and hopefully dispatching him... Miko smashed the ring into the wrist of his other arm, grunting involuntarily from the pain. The emerald powder sunk into the fabric, small sprouts growing from it as it went. The Summoner dropped to the ground, clinging desperately as Yoshimitsu's weaker shield dissipated under the stress, and stones the size of tennis balls began to be wrenched loose and pulled into the darkness.
A large, flat rock, easily the size of a dinner plate, was torn loose from beneath one of the trees. It went spinning by Miko's head, and he only barely dodged it. The jagged corner ripped a crimson line across his temple, the blood trickly freely from the wound. Miko simply gritted his teeth, and bore down harder. If he could just last until...
He felt an odd, almost ticklish sensation as the vines slithered down his arm and dug into the stone. Now, he was anchored. That was good enough. If the vortex could draw him in now, it'd have to be strong enough to tear him limb from limb, outright.
Rising to his feet with much more confidence, Miko simply gestured towards Rick for him to come after him. The Summoner's white teeth were bared in a taxxed grin, his arms tensed and ready. His right was raised, evidently ready to guard himself if Rick charged, while his left, somewhat behind him, clutched at the vines that tethered him to the earth.
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Post by Hamuu on Dec 21, 2008 18:20:16 GMT -5
“That was the worst thing you could have done Miko,” Rick said as he shifted the vortex to point down at the ground. “Impact!” the mage snarled in a low tone as he flung the vortex into his shadow. Immediately Miko’s own shadow erupted in an explosion that shook the entire island. OOC – This feels short and forced well at least the fight is just about over. Man Impact seemed so cool when I first thought it up but now I am a little disappointed with it.
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Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 1, 2009 0:46:46 GMT -5
The instant that Rick focused on his shadow, Miko’s lips drew into a grimace. He immediately tumbled sideways, as if pulled the vines on his arm had tugged him out of harm’s way. He threw himself to the ground, rolling with the impact. The explosion’s force battered him, but he kept moving. Miko tumbled to his feet, and immediately spun around. His cape billowed in the wind, masking his movements for a brief moment.
Three crescents of azure light shot through his cape, each one roughly as wide as a tire. One shot harmlessly into the sky, its twin at a similar angle into the ground, and the middle one streaked directly towards Rick. Not pausing to see if the blade had struck, Miko spiraled again. Bracing his left arm with his right, he swung with as much strength as he could muster.
A television-sized chunk of the island, snared by the anchoring plants, and then cut free of the earth by the blade, arced towards Rick. It shot over his head and a split second later, jerked back, aimed directly at the base of his neck. Miko extended his left hand impartially, beckoning, and the vine retracted. The makeshift flail shot back to his grasp, the Summoner jolting slightly as he caught it.
“Don’t underestimate me, Rick. I do everything I can to live up to my position,” Miko stood proud, his jaw set. What he didn’t expose was that the expression was to hide locked teeth, bearing the pain from the wounds Impact had dealt him. A chunk of wood big enough to stake a vampire had stabbed him in the right shoulder beneath his cape, and his left calf looked like in had taken a shotgun blast from a distance. He carefully adjusted his cape to hide his injuries by shifting his shoulders, keeping the rock clenched tightly in his grasp.
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Post by Hamuu on Jan 17, 2009 21:47:13 GMT -5
Rick no longer had the energy to move after his last attack. The arc of energy sliced through the air with deadly speed but ultimately dissipated upon coming in contact with the mage’s aura.
Just so you know, that was me saving our ass.
Black flames erupted from Rick’s aura and surrounded his body. It was not him but the other soul now dumping its energy into his body. At least Rick was still in control of his body, but it wouldn’t last. If he remained in this state, the demon within him would take full control.
The Diablo flared back to life in a glint of black flame and steal. With unnatural speed, Rick closed the gap and made to strike Miko down with the magical mage blade. Sparks showered around the two as the summoner blocked the mage’s sword. The two stood there pushing against the other as sparks and energy rained down around them.
OOC: Sorry it took so long Lee, but you know what to do know.
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Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 20, 2009 0:00:23 GMT -5
"Urgh!" Miko strained against the blow, letting the vines on his left arm crumbled to dust. He through the stone aside, ignoring his instinct to throw it at Rick's leg, and used his freed hand to reinforce his guard. The summoner dug his heels into the ground, putting all of his weight into resisting the attack.
"I told you... Rick.... This isn't some effort to stop my evildoing. If you were trying to do that, there's better ways to go about it," Miko felt pressure against his arm... The blade was actually pushing through the armor of his bracer.
"All that you're doing here is throwing a fit over the jerks that I've associated with killing your friends and family..." Miko pinched two of his knuckles together, ready to crush the rings. He felt the warmth of blood flowing down his back, the wound in his should starting to ooze freely.
"And I've gotta say... Grow up already! This isn't going to undo any of the pain that's happened before, yours, or anybody elses' for that matter! Live with it! Learn from it!" Miko shifted his weight, forcing Rick's attack off balance, and attempted to break the lock by circling around behind him.
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Post by Hamuu on Jan 21, 2009 0:58:29 GMT -5
“No you don’t!” Rick shouted as he spun around and swung his sword at the summoner, forcing him into another lock.
You have the power to kill him, do it!
Rick ignored the voice and brought his face close to Miko, “You don’t get it! This isn’t about misplaced aggression. You were a monster Miko, you destroyed Slateport and killed thousands when you tasted the extent of your power. I have to know that you feel remorse for those you killed, that your soul is capable of surviving such an act. I have to know that when I become the monster that I can still come back…”
For the first time since their battle began Rick showed true fear in his eyes. It wasn’t fear of Miko, but fear of what Rick himself might become one day if he couldn’t conquer his own power.
You should have used the last of your strength to kill him, instead you wasted it holding me in my cage. Now, it’s my turn.
Rick suddenly felt himself plummeting through darkness and knew he’d lost his internal struggle. Externally the mage was undergoing changes. His hair grew down to the middle of his back as it shifted from blue to black and weaved itself into a braid. The color in his irises drained leaving only white circle around his dark pupils.
“Hi!” Rick heard himself say to Miko, “Allow me to help you into hell.”
No! Stop!
“Shut up weakling,” this new Rick said as he jerked his head to the right, “you had your chance.”
Rick turned his attention back to Miko, “After I kill you, I’ll take out those other guys too! Should be fun, plus I think I see a girl or two.” The mage winked in a sickening way before adding, “You are an unfortunate guy. He wasn’t going to kill you at all. Me on the other hand, well like I said…”
With a sharp push Rick knocked Miko back and brought his sword up to finish the fight.
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Jan 21, 2009 10:43:34 GMT -5
"What the fuck?" Yoshimitsu asked. The question was aimed at Mia, but his eyes were locked on Rick. As soon as he felt that power, a sudden change in what Rick could control, he had tensed up, his body reacting despite his mind not knowing what was happening. Already, he had drawn both of his swords, but he was not about to enter the fray. What he could feel coming from Rick could be described only as evil.
"What just happened?"
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Post by Hamuu on Jan 21, 2009 11:44:50 GMT -5
Mia bit her lip as a sickly feeling spread throughout her body, “It’s called the dissociative soul. The chaotic nature of black magic tears a chunk of the soul away and uses it as an anchor so the mage can control the dark magic. But over time the soul develops its own personality and is corrupted by the nature of their power. In most black mages it is nothing more than an evil voice in their head. Over time they would either learn to control it or, if they were completely successful, merge with it. Merging would allow him or her to reach the peak of their power.”
The white mage wobbled slightly but managed to shakily remain standing. “But Rick is different; he’s half black mage and half andalite. His potential goes far beyond any of the black mages or andalites who came before him and thus his dissociative soul is that much more powerful.” Mia took a deep breath and continued, “When we met he told me that the struggle was so bad that he literally split into two different bodies when he was a teenager. He thought he had conquered the soul when the two bodies finally merged back together.”
“But it appears he was mistaken,” a tear rolled down her cheek, “and it’s Shin-Ra’s fault. It was the other mages who cast the black mage tribes out of the city and eventually decided to purge them from their race. Because of them Rick is the last of his people and has no idea what to do in ordered to heal his warring souls. The mages of Shin-Ra created the very monster they feared the black mages would become.”
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Jan 21, 2009 13:00:42 GMT -5
"So what you're telling me is," Yoshimitsu said slowly. "Whatever that thing is, it's controlling Rick? And... it's aiming to kill. Is there anything Rick can do now before things get out of hand?"
"Miko, I hope to God you know what you're doing."
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Post by Hamuu on Jan 21, 2009 16:44:11 GMT -5
“I’m not sure,” Mia struggled to breathe as the intense aura continued to washed over her, “Before Rick had to constantly concentrate on fighting back the dissociative soul while simultaneously fighting Miko. It would be like fighting with half your powers and one arm tied behind your back. But this Rick has no reason to hold back, he’ll focus everything on his target.”
“I’m not sure how much control Rick has, but his is the dominate soul of the body. If we can knock him out he’ll regain control again.” Mia, no longer able to stand, fell to her knees. This Rick cared nothing for her and was not bothering to subdue his aura. For her it was like poison invading her body and, if this battle didn’t end soon, it would kill her.
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Jan 21, 2009 16:50:47 GMT -5
Yoshimitsu could feel the power flowing from Rick. It was just so intense, so raw and strong. It was the kind of power than should be both respected and feared. But at the same time, he was vaguely registering Mia's weakening voice. Taking his eyes from the battling before him for a second, he saw Mia lose her ability to stand. With amazing reflexes, he caught the girl before she could hit the ground, and lowered her gently.
"Can Miko do it? Can Miko stop him?" Yoshimitsu asked. He raised his hand and pointed his palm at Mia, focusing briefly. A green glow covered his hand. He was trying to heal Mia, using only as much healing power as he dared. Already, he could tell that Mia was reacting to Rick's new power in an unpredictable way. If the healing showed any signs of being harmful, he would desist immediately.
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Post by Hamuu on Jan 21, 2009 17:24:17 GMT -5
Mia breathed in deeply a few times as some amount of strength returned. “Thank you, but it’s futile. The moment you stop it’ll just start happening again, for it to truly be effective you’d have to constantly heal me and that would drain to much power. If Miko can’t handle him, our only chance to save them both is for one of you to get me close enough to use a healing spell on him. I don’t think I have the strength to do a long range spell, I’d have to physically touch him.”
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Jan 21, 2009 18:09:43 GMT -5
"That wont be a problem," Yoshimitsu said He frowned slightly, strengthening the healing since it did not seem to be causing harm. "Either things. I can keep up a low power healing for a while, and when it comes to getting close to Rick... Well, I haven't ever been beaten in a race, and I don't intend to start losing now."
OOC- I love that Hector's apparently just stood there, oblivious.
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Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 21, 2009 19:19:26 GMT -5
"A monster, huh?" Miko clicked the rings together again, smiling grimly. Green strings of light began to spiral around him, curling and branching as the Summoner increased his focus. Miko focused his strength, jumping as high as he could manage backwards. He paused in midair, resting on an invisible screen, and watched Rick rush at him. At the last moment, Miko vaulted over the brutal strike, and stopped again, resting on another forcefield he had conjured in midleap.
"Considering what you're saying, I think that you're going about this completely wrong-" Miko threw a glimmer to the ground, and stepped back. Rick's next slash nicked the edge of the forcefield, sending shards of it spraying up.
"Of course, to set you right..." Miko drew a line upwards with his left index finger. The ground, now a solid ten feet below, was torn apart as a gigantic green vine shot up. Miko caught onto it as it punched through the forcefield, riding it as it climbed skywards. He squinted, dust blowing past his face as the stalk continued rushing the heavens.
"I think that I'm far enough clear now..." Miko jumped free of the stalk, pausing on yet another platform. He glared at Rick, the black mage now flying to pursue him, sword at the ready.
"Crush him," Miko closed his open hand, and the titanic vine immediately stopped growing. Its tip bent back down, like a snake readying to strike, and the plunged at Rick. It missed, hammering into the ground about a pace to the right of where he had been. The mage continued his flight, readying his blade to cleave into the Summoner-
He stopped, caught by the trailing loop of vine. Like a freight train, it barrelled down, carrying the mage down under its unimaginable bulk. The vine slammed into the earth with explosive force, not even slowng for Rick's efforts to resist it. As it struck the earth, the ocean around surged outwards, hammered away by the force. A cloud of debris flew up, bits of stinging stone rainging down even upon the spectators.
"If you get up after that-" Miko's crimson eyes glared down, watching for signs of activity in the devastation wrought by his spell. His left hand still worked open and closed, as if anticipating the enemy to attack again.
OOC: Please don't be defeated by that attack. I wanna do another round or two against full-power Rick so you can really strut your stuff. After that... Well, the plot will need to move, so somebody's going to have to lose.
Oh, and if you're wondering what Hector's doing, he's probably busy looking up Mia's dress, knowing him...
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Post by Hamuu on Jan 21, 2009 23:28:11 GMT -5
An explosion of flame incinerated a large chunk of the vine as Rick stood up and laughed, “You scuffed up my shirt you prick.”
The mage looked up at Miko as though he wasn’t sure what to do next. “I would love to play with, I really would. That being said, I think I am gonna have to cut this short.” Rick smiled as his body sunk into his shadow and disappeared.
If you do it, we’ll die.
“Ha!” Rick laughed as he floated through the darkness, “You underestimate your own body and what it’s capable of. Now shut the f*ck up while I concentrate. Five is good number don’t you think?”
Rick burst out of the shadow of a large tree and hovered slightly above the ground as he waited. Four more Ricks exited nearby shadows and joined him.
“Interesting.”
“Yes, if not somewhat maddening…”
“Well what are we waiting for?”
“Yeah! Let’s rip his head off!”
The Ricks cackled as they shot off into the air towards Miko, each one reading his respective sword.
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Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 26, 2009 21:10:18 GMT -5
OOC: Just having trouble with my planned choreography, since I already had my last move planned out but it doesn't work with this. Not a problem, though. BIC: "Yeah? Please tell me how this puts me in any greater danger..." Miko dropped to his knees, punching the forcefield beneath him. The barrier shattered instantly, releasing the Summoner into a freefall. "Here!" Miko extended a hand, a ring exploding into a green blur. The vine snagged one of the Ricks around the torso, and a moment later, Miko followed it. The movement so fast that he couldn't discern the features of his target, the Summoner threw his weight to the side. The cartwheel maneuver spun him under the blade of the Rick, and Miko righted himself as he closed in. Using the last acceleration the retracting snare had to offer, Miko brought up his knee. He slammed into the mage's face with a bone crunching impact, jarring both of the aerial combatants with the force of the blow. Miko willed the vine to sever, and lashed out with a kick. He flipped away from the first one, and heard the cackling laughter of another one closing in from his left side. He spun, catching the swing on his bracer, and using the momentum to circle around into a vicious roundhouse kick. Though not as decisive as the first strike had been, it struck cleanly and threw Miko clear again. So far, so good...Miko paused, sensing for his opponents for only a split second, and realized the trap that he had fallen into. He pointed his hand upwards, forming a quick barrier, and then shoved off of it. A sword from either side barely missed, the one to his right still clipping his arm well enough to draw a spatter of blood. Above, against the barrier, a wave of flames crashed down. Sizzling for a moment before growing in intensity, the fire spell hammered his barrier like the wrath of a deity. "And now..." A flash of red appeared for an instant, snagging Miko and flinging him back towards the sky. As it faded from existance again, the flames punched through the barrier and crushed into the island like a bomb from above, right where Miko had been a second earlier. The summoner rode the force of the throw, twisting it into another flip. He adjusted his course, and attempted to land with both feet on the head of the Rick that had flung the spell at him. OOC: Just tryin' to get it back down to one on one.
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Post by Hamuu on Feb 11, 2009 19:05:24 GMT -5
Rick was crushed beneath the force of the impact, but strangely his body evaporated into a strange black mist which split into four separate clouds. They wafted through the air and entered the other Rick’s through the nose and mouth.
“Tasty!” one of the Rick’s yelled.
“Let finish this and kill the other’s.” the Rick closest to Miko ordered.
Two of the remaining four joined him on either side. Dust flew up around them as they sped towards their target for a head on attack.
“No you don’t!” the fourth Rick yelled as he came down hard on the center Rick.
He reached out and grabbed the heads of the other two, his force sending them all down to the ground and a massive heap. The fourth Rick catapulted up and landed near Miko.
“You should have split me up too, like you did yourself.” Rick spit at the other hims.
The three of them stood and brandished their swords. Their mouths moved indicating they were planning something. With a cackle the two nearest Miko and Rick launched themselves toward the. The third smiled and sunk into his shadow.
“Their getting tired,” Rick breather to Miko, “One good attack will finish them off.”
Yoshimitsu’s shadow rippled as the third Rick burst from it and attempted to engulf them all in a cascade of flames.
OOC: This is a load of crap. Ugh.
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Feb 12, 2009 11:13:16 GMT -5
"Shit!"
The Rick that had come from Yoshimistu's shadow caught the blue haired warrior by surprise. However, he had been on edge this entire fight, so he instinctively reacted. With a powerful blast of wind he forced both Hector and Mia out of harm's way, hoping that Hector might have the sense to prevent any further injury to Mia. The flames came, but Yoshimitsu knew how to deal with it. He raised his palms, focusing as hard as he could. The flames seemed to flow towards Yoshimitsu's hands, condensing themselves so that they became harmless.
Hector landed smoothly. He was surprisingly agile, despite having been hit by a hurricane-force wind. As soon as he landed, he was on the move, diving in front of Mia before she could hit the ground in a slightly more painful fashion.
"One of the clones, are you?" Yoshimitsu asked conversationally, raising his swords as he hopped backwards. "And attacking a stationary, distracted target too. I'm not impressed."
With a flash, Yoshimitsu summoned Bahamut into his swords, the dragon possessing them as he had before. Without any hesitation, Yoshimitsu threw himself into a violent spin, bringing both swords round repeatedly at the Rick clone whilst simultaneous releasing sheets of gold and blue flames from both blades. Even if the initial swings didn't hit, there would still be a wave of fire to cope with.
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Post by Hamuu on Mar 24, 2009 0:29:12 GMT -5
Rick watched as Yoshimitsu quickly dispatched the Shadow Rick that had attacked him. The mage felt no remorse but it was odd seeing himself explode into a cloud of black dust that flew through the air and into the remaining three’s noses.
As he turned his attention back towards the remaining two, Rick whispered to Miko, “Our fight isn’t over and someday we’ll have to finish it. For now though, if you have something that can end this do it.”
Rick kicked off the ground and flew at his duplicates, ready to intercept and buy the summoner time.
~
Mia landed gently in Hectors arms. She smiled faintly in thanks just as the energy radiating off the Shadow Rick washed over her. Unable to withstand the pain any longer she began uncontrollably vomiting blood and bile. His destruction brought her minor relief but she had already slipped into unconsciousness.
~
Rick parried the blows easily; after all, he knew all the same moves that his shadow selves did. Unfortunately that meant anytime he tried to turn the fight in his favor the duplicates had the same advantage. It seemed that the current situation was locked in a stalemate.
Even when Rick tried to recall the fights he had with himself the first time his body split he still couldn’t find an answer. Then he had split into two different entities – a body representing his father’s heritage and another representing his mother’s, neither was necessarily evil but acted on instincts.
This fight though, it was as if the process had matured with him. Now the Shadow Ricks were perfect forms of himself controlled by either him or his dark side. But good things had come of this confrontation, most of all he had found that he could use shadowcasting to not only amplify his attacks but also split himself. Unfortunately until he had defeated his inner dark side it would be too risky to use.
Surprisingly though he found himself doubting everything he knew about Miko. He may never be able to forgive the summoner for his actions, but he might hold the key to Rick finally conquering his own soul.
“Now!” the closest Shadow Rick shouted.
The two brought their feet back and kicked into their shadows, reaping in Ricks shadow and knocking his feet out from under him. In the same instant, he felt his sword knocked from his hands. As he struck the ground, he could see them looming over him as the brought down their swords down on his head.
“Nice try,” Rick said as he laid there, blood draining down his arms from having blocked the swords with his hands.
“You let us…?” the second Shadow Rick questioned.
Rick smiled as flecks of glitter like snow floated around the three of them, “Yeah I let you.”
Immediately the two attempted to retreat, obviously knowing what spell Rick was about to cast.
“Ultima.” Rick said as the glittery snow transformed into flaring balls of energy. Like small comets, they flew through the air and centered on the two Ricks. Using all his concentration Rick held the second part of the spell back. Waiting for Miko, what ever he did would get a nice explosive boost from Ultima.
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Mar 27, 2009 7:55:35 GMT -5
"Fuck," Yoshimitsu muttered, shooting from his position like a bullet. The attack from the shadow Rick had caused his to stop his healing, meaning that Mia was once again being affected by the black magic that Rick was using. As quickly as his body would allow, he tried to get back to Mia, praying that she was alright.
"Hector, put her down and step back," Yoshimitsu ordered. Hector immediately did so. He knew already that Yoshimitsu could get very testy when such a serious order was disobeyed, and he did not want to be on the receiving end. Yoshimitsu sheathed his swords, clapped his hands together and started focusing. Mia, as far as he could tell, knew the most about the situation at hand, so if things got out of control (like they appeared to be doing), he knew that she would be able to tell him how he could help.
Yoshimitsu extended his palms at Mia, a green glow covering them. Immediately, the glow covered Mia, a healing power on a much higher level than what had been used before. He knew that he only had to help Mia back to consciousness, then he could lower the flow. Until that point, though, he'd heal her with the best of his ability.
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Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 8, 2010 16:20:14 GMT -5
A soft light had been forming above the battlefield, only now noticable. It shone like a hazy sun, its luminosity casting an faint chartreuse glow through a forcefield Miko had created. Bits and flecks of spring-green light came sweeping up in arching pathways, starting in the sea and darting around like fish before being caught up.
Miko stomped with one foot, the barrier beneath him shattering into innumerable shards. While Rick had been holding off his duplicates, his hands had been moving with supernatural speed and surety. With the filter gone, the battlefield was sharply lit. Normal shadows were gone, the accumulated energy dwarfing the relative brilliance of the sun. The summoner hung suspended, seemingly supported merely by the mana that he had gathered for the attack.
This spell... The only one in Jade Magic powerful enough to require a verbal component to control it... Miko swung his feet, managing to pull himself into a backflip. His hands pulled free from the orb with a snapping noise, like an elastic breaking.
He landed atop it, taking one moment to catch his breath. The gathered power started to shift in color, growing darker and more towards a shade of cyan than green. A rustling, like billions of leaves on the wind, began eminating from inside it.
"This is the last blow, Rick," Miko threw a punch, hammering the ball. It didn't explode, crack, or break like his prior forcefields had. Instead, it blossomed outwards. Hundreds of blades, similar to the ones he had been slinging at Rick earlier, now emerged, and ruffled outwards as countless more spilled from the interior. They expanded until forming a design the size of a city block, perfectly symetrical and without flaws.
To those below, it appeared as a titanic blue rose, each petal shining with a soft light. The rustling went silent, leaving only the voice of the waves.
"The ultimate technique of Jade Magic, Lan Yizhi Meiguihua!" Miko opened his fist, and placed his palm upon the center of the flower's back. It scattered, the blades losing the cohesion and flying out around the battlefield. Right as it looked certain they'd indiscriminately destroy the spectators, though, they all turned back in.
Each blade grew as it hit the area infused with the Ultima, expanding from the size of hubcaps to a measure almost equal with a dining room table. Each one, as it struck, plowed deeply into the ground, and then exploded with enough force to make the coral island shudder. Gigantic waves rolled outwards from the focus of the spell, making their boat bob and shudder in the sudden violence of the sea.
The hammer blows increased in tempo, soon absolutely filling the air over the atoll. The shadow Rick attempted to ward them off, but even with his incredible might, was covered in gashes and was missing his right arm below the elbow. He glared upwards at Miko, panting.
"Damn you, Summoner scu-"
"Finish," Miko clenched his fist. The remaining blades swept in, aimed directly at the Black Mage. He attempted to jump over them, only to have them swoop back upwards and tear through him. He tumbled to the ground, body broken, and proceeded to start to stand once more.
There was a loud thud as Miko plummeted from the skies, landing between Rick and his double. He threw down a ring, an invisible wall forming between his group and the doppleganger right as the second burst from Ultima occured.
Bits of stone and steam errupted in all directions as a massive azure flash enveloped the island. Sealife was boiled instantly and the air roiled back in a shockwave. There was a roar that bellowed out over the ocean, enough to be heard back in Olivine.
A mist of the boiled seawater and dust choked the air as the last of the spell dissipated. All that the watchers could make out was a hunched figure, breathing heavily. Yoshimitsu waved a hand, a gust of wind parting the clouds.
"Thanks..." Miko tentatively stood up, shaky on his legs. Though his cape mostly concealed it, the back of his uniform was drenched in blood. The camo green had become a sickly wet brown, the water around him picking up traces of crimson.
The emperor of the Summoners knelt down, and tried to elevate Rick as best he could. The black mage was prone, his breathing heavy and ragged. Miko couldn't be certain if he was conscious or not. Though he had directed his attack entirely against the copy, just being near it was easily enough to kill a lesser being that was unprotected...
Miko growled slightly, under his breath, and turned to the others. Issabelle was peering over Yoshimitsu's muscled shoulders, concern in her eyes.
"That is how you do Jade-" Miko coughed, and winced as the movement hit his injury, "Magic. Yoshimitsu, I... Well, if you could get us back to the boat, it'd be greatly appreciated."
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Post by Yoshimitsu on Jan 8, 2010 16:33:57 GMT -5
The combined force of the spells was staggering. Incredible. Overwhelming. Yoshimitsu braced himself while trying to maintain his flow of healing on Mia. Hector, next to him, erected a wall of flames and covered both his friend and the white mage with his body. Even then, the force blasting out of the spells nearly broke them. Without conscious though, Yoshimitsu thrust his palm out at the wall of fire and froze it solid, a block of ice at least a meter thick protecting the trio.
Thankfully, the defense lasted just long enough. As the last of the ripples from the combat shattered the wall, Yoshimitsu turned his attention to the outcome. Rick was unconscious, Miko was injured and Mia was still down for the count. The mist that had risen was obscuring, and Yoshimitsu casually sent a powerful gust of wind to erase it.
"Thanks..." He heard Miko say, his voice weaker than Yoshimitsu was used to.
"Hector, make sure she's okay," Yoshimitsu ordered, running to Miko. Rick was in bad shape, and Miko was barely any better.
"Yoshimitsu, I... Well, if you could get us back to the boat, it'd be greatly appreciated."
"No problem, Miko," Yoshimitsu said as he raised his palm to the sky. Instantly, the massive blue dragon formed, his wings beating softly as he hovered above the scene. "Bahamut, me, Miko and Hec'll get on your back. Can you carry Rick and Mia?"
After receiving confirmation, Yoshimitsu put Miko's arm over his shoulder. The summoner was in no fit state to jump on to Bahamut, so the blue haired teenager helped him. Moments later, they were on their way back to the boat.
"Stay still. This isn't a perfect art," Yoshimitsu ordered Miko, pointing his palms at the summoner. Instantly, a green glow covered both Yoshimitsu's hands and Miko's wounds. Skin knitted itself back together. "It's not healing, not really. It's more like speeding up time. Good for light to moderate cuts, sometimes deep wounds. No good for broken bones."
Yoshimitsu looked Miko in the eye.
"What do you think?" His question was vague, but his intonation was hinting at Rick and the outcome of the battle.
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Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 8, 2010 17:02:12 GMT -5
OOC - The thing is, Terrian could send his duplicates off into other topics if I wanted to be really strict about using him in only one active topic at a time, but his duplicates don't have the power of creating and absorbing other duplicates*, so they'd just be regular dudes if they were off by themselves. Anyway, I'll figure out a way to work him in later.
*FOR NOW ANYWAY! We have Pohatu's word. He'll be working Terrian into this topic somehow. BIC: "I don't know what to think, really," Miko responded, glancing around warily. The last thing he needed was for even more people to get pulled into the conflict. In a bit, he'd come up with a good way to explain what happened for the people who had stayed on the ship. As for right now, "He called me genocidal monster, so I killed him a couple times over and then left him near death," was not exactly the greatest of excuses, or the most flattering. "It's... bad that he wanted to fight with me, in the first place. It's one thing to spar with somebody, or have a toussle with them. That's- Well, people like us, sometimes, just end up getting violent." Miko sighed. "But to go straight to swinging a sword at me like that... I had hoped that he wasn't quite that far gone. I was hoping that he would hear my words well enough to stop, to reconsider starting a lethal battle before somebody got hurt." Miko winced slightly as a few pieces of grit extracted themself from his wound. Yoshimitsu was inhibiting the pain, but like all pain killers, it had some limit. "So, I guess my initial evaluation was off. He hates me more than he cares about the rest of you guys, even if some of you worked with him before. That's not good," Miko stood up, un-clasping his cape. He slipped it from his shoulders, and carefully folded it. "But, when those evil- errr, well, evil things showed up, he actually decided to work with me. That's the most important thing to think on, here. He hates me more than he cares about a bunch of innocent strangers, but he-" Miko smiled bitterly. "Still hates me less than he loves that girl. I'll need to thank her when she's better. After all, she's the only reason that we didn't have to kill him outright."
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