It was not uncommon to hear battle cries in the Rift now. In some deep(er), dark(er) portion of it, a certain silver-haired Captain was battling his way through youma challengers. When he'd come in, he'd held the starseed out and issued a challenge - the one who could beat him would receive the prize. And by 'beat' him, he meant make him concede to a draw. He wasn't looking to lose his life training here. And he wasn't about to let any youma 'defeat' him.

Tattered coat tails, bloody cheek and splattered hair later, he looked on with fire in his pink eyes at his most recent challenge. Each had come at him, sometimes more than one at a time, and each one stronger than the opponent before. This one though, well. This one might very well wind up being the last, for most of the damage he had taken was from this b*****d.

It looked like a huge land piranha. With spindly mantis-like legs made of sharp blades.

Currently it looked like the two were at a stand off, staring at each other. Then suddenly there was another youma upon the piranha-mantis, sending it scurrying away, then looking menacingly down at Bismuthite. It has been waiting for this. Waiting to take that prize. It has just been letting the others weaken Bismuthite first. Opportunistic b*****d of a youma? You bet.

Bismuthite could respect that.The youma wasn't as big as the other one. This one looked like some sort of demon fox made of acid and spikes. Bismuthite doubted his weapon would have much of an effect, and he wasn't sure he wanted to test that acid... He had little choice as the youma lept at him, maw dripping. The captain thought he might have seen some pink teeth the same color as the youma's spikes in that mouth, but he wasn't going back for another look. He'd just barely escaped that lunge.

Bismuthite landed a kick upside the youma's head, but that only made it mad. Growling, it came at him again with more ferocity. That bone-hard head and ram horns hit him in the stomach, winding him and effectively lowering his face to paw-smacking level. An already bloody cheek would now sport some extra claw marks.

He glared at the youma. The youma glared back. Pink eyes on pink. The skurimish continued, neither backing down, each matching blow for blow - even with the captain tired and injured. They were both simply that stubborn. It wasn't until Bismuthite hit the ground and the starseed went rolling out of his pocket that the battle ended. The youma quickly descended upon it, paused to give Bismuthite a teasing 'I win' look, and running off.

Bismuthite sat there, both surprised and angry. Things just got personal. Next time he came back to the Rift, he'd be tracking that b*****d down. But for now..it was best to leave and patch himself up. It had been a long, long day...