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 Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:26 pm
Umber considered himself unsuccessful this past night, with 3AM approaching and no powered entities lured to his location. He wanted more input, yet none came - whether due to summer finals or a sudden upset in patrolling through this area, he didn't know. Not even civilians meandered through the courtyard area, so draining remained at a standstill too.
Finally Umber gave up on his endeavor in favor of sleeping. With the events of past weeks, the captain lacked a sustainable sleep schedule, though adjusting that to fit his needs and still have time to balance between job and Negaverse seemed unlikely. Instead he was left with these situations where rubbing sleep from his eyes never quite sufficed and he worried he may fall asleep through an integral fight. Walking kept him upright, at least, and the university grounds were quiet enough that he could slip out and return home without being bothered by the collegiate residents in the area.
Past the dorms central to the campus, the university grounds devolved into a host of bars, cheap eateries, and a few essentials stores of the jack-of-all-trades varieties. He managed to pass at least three eateries, a bar named "The Library" (which he didn't understand), and approached a Target when he became keenly aware that someone approached him laterally. Initially he could not discern the signature type, but as it drew closer, he worked through the exhaustion to determine the owner as a White Moon senshi. He sighed with a low seethe - he knew that engaging a target while exhausted proved dangerous. This one felt relatively simple, an irritant more than a threat, so he remained where he was between the streetlights while the signature remained.
This one might give me the information I need. If it won't, then I expect a basic senshi is easier to kill or corrupt as a captain. Perhaps my calls will hold more value to the general-sovereigns now. But if they continued to place him in charge of newly-corrupted members, then he may need to start eliminating the enemy and seizing their starseeds. Between Sandrine and, while less direct, Ploutonion, he had little time to spare for a third recruit.
But this is getting ahead of myself, he reminded sternly. It hasn't even arrived. It may reroute course away from me yet. I will see soon.
So the captain carefully aligned himself between two windows of the art store building and waited for the arrival of the senshi. Inwardly he hoped motionlessness as camouflage worked on more than just animals.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:20 pm
Iphigenia passed through the bar district around DCU. It was late at night, and she was alone. She looked around her, eyes bright and sharp, searching for any sign of Chaos. Camelot and Castor had both warned her against patrolling the night alone, but Iphigenia figured at the very least she had the right to keep the area around her apartment safe. And as dangerous as Chaos supposedly was, so far she'd only met youma and cowards. She'd been able to dust the youma and as for the cowards. Well, it was hard to respect cowards.
She rounded the corner and felt the cold tug at the base of her spine. Chaos, she thought with a snarl. It felt familiar to Astrophyllite's - the same strength, at the very least. If that encounter was anything to judge by, Iphigenia had this in the bag. She followed it as it trailed to the west.
As she neared the art store building, the aura seemed to pulse, stronger, and stronger still. They were close. She came to a stop, vividly aware of her reflection in the window. The Negaverse agent was no where in sight, but the aura hadn't moved since her arrival at this block. Maybe, this one did not intend to run. Good. Her hands were still at her side, but her stance was poised - ready to react to whatever came her way. It was challenge enough.
Let them come then, she thought, I am ready.
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 9:22 am
He saw her easily.
The senshi, clothed in white, were not attired well for blending into their surroundings. He himself fared better in forests, but the muted browns lent well to the dulled colors that composed the night. Against a brick building, he blended well between glass.
But she, who stood near (and so proudly too) did not spare him a glance. She did not approach or display recognition of his exact location. And in that rare second, he knew that teleportation behind her would end the encounter quickly and with starseed in hand. As practiced on many nights, he focused on visualizing the area behind her starting with the senshi herself - her voluminous hair, the silver fuku that whispered around her in a light breeze, the curve of pale shoulders accented sharlpy against the darkened surroundings. Beyond that, the side of the art building, which he remembered partially covered in graffiti; the dirtied sidewalks, the collection of litter around one of the trees planted. He knew these sights, coupled with the way the firm breeze would whip his hair and beads once he crossed beyond the building's shelter.
And yet, the captain managed no spatial shift to close their distance. He managed nothing at all. He opened weary eyes to the same sights as before, with nothing to show for his endeavors but a newfound ire against this headstrong senshi. His countenance snarled toward the windows opposite his building. A low, groaning sigh issued from the man while he gave up the thought of ambushing his latest target.
And in stalking out from his place among the buildings, he started into a run, and tapped into dwindling energy reserves to summon his weapons across bare knuckles.
She would see him now, surely, before he struck the first blow. Knowing this, Umber attempted to delay his strike until the last moment, and only when feet from her did he drop to the floor to aim a fist to the side of her knee.Minsuil feel free to dodge or take the hit~ more dodges can be finagled due to exhaustion
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:41 pm
He came charging straight at her, head lowered and fists held close. It was only after he'd passed under a sign that she registered the spikes on his gauntlet. She immediately formulated her plan. She would dodge his first blow, let his momentum carry him forward (hopefully into a street lamp or something). If she dodged out to the side, off the sidewalk and into the street, she should be able to get a hit in on his exposed flank. Not enough to take him out, but it'd certainly hurt. And if she missed then--
No time to think about alternatives, he was closing in. Iphigenia readied herself to dodge, right or left depending on which fist he favored. The Negaverse agent did neither and instead dropped to the floor. Iphigenia realized his intent and jumped to the left. If he managed to knock her off balance, things were going to get a lot harder. Luckily she missed the brunt of the damage as they slid past each other.
The strike grazed the side of her leg as she jumped to the left and she hissed. A possibility she'd overlooked. A mistake. She had to be faster. Three rivulets of blood snaked down her leg. It wasn't a lot by any measure, certainly not enough to make a marked change in her power levels but she could clearly see the Negavers agent's flank. She was already forming a small ball of magic in her hands.
"Eat this! Aulis' Promise!"
The attack flew from her hands. Iphigenia allowed herself a small smile, there was no way she could miss.Strickenized Despite what Iphi thinks, feel free to have Umber dodge! Aulis' PromiseIphigenia makes a small ball of energy filled with swirling silvery-light in her hand and fires it at an enemy causing damage akin to being hit by a paintball. Upon contact, it shatters and dissipates. The strength of this attack becomes stronger the more blood Iphigenia has lost. A Class I hemorrhage feels like a close range paintball shot, while a Class II hemorrhage feels like getting hit by a large rock. She gains a power spike about every 2 cups of blood she's lost, but will not get any power increase beyond a Class II hemorrhage. She can use this attack four times in battle.
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:35 pm
Initially Umber thought he never landed a strike. But when he straightened, turned, and searched for her form, he noticed the thin rivulets crawling down her leg. The spikes on his knuckles managed enough sharpness to pass through that skin seamlessly - or he had enough force to rend skin as paper.
Tired eyes demanded more time to track, and when they lighted on her, his brain gave pause to process. Only seconds after her attack discharged did he finally realize her precise location, but reaction times disallowed him to respond accordingly. He intended to duck, to dodge, to retreat toward the building itself. He intended to break into it as necessary and use the cramped enclosure of furniture and goods to prevent her from gaining too much distance. He intended to foil her every attempt to gain enough room for casting.
But reality prevented him from gaining any advantage. He stooped, and yet the attack struck him squarely in the shoulder, temporarily paralyzing the nerve and resulting in that arm hanging limply after the recoil exited his system. He winced, his good arm clasping about the quickly swelling welt, and he reevaluated the situation.
If I could teleport, this would be so much easier. I should've made time to ******** sleep.
Umber bit back his anger momentarily and spared a glance for alternatives. Nothing proved useful - their meager battlefield housed little more than buildings, lamp posts, and useless detritus. He couldn't manage projectiles with any of it. Instead he charged toward her again with the intent to leap toward the street light and descend on her from there. The angle often caught animals and humans alike off-guard, and he hoped she found no special considerations for it. Landing on her would destroy her balance regardless, which left Umber at an advantage.
An advantage he sorely needed, given his exhaustion.Minsuil thank you for being patient!
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:10 am
The attack hit him square in the shoulder, and Iphigenia could see his arm hanging limply. It wouldn't be immobilized for long, maybe no more than a moment, but it was something Iphigenia could capitalize on.
When he started charging towards her, she wondered if he was stupid. It hadn't worked the first time even with the element of surprise on his side. What made him think it would work a second time? She glanced around quickly - there was nothing around them save for flat building faces and lamp posts. Ah, lamp posts. She measured the distance between him and the nearest post. She wouldn't hit him in time now. Not that it matters, she thought with a small smile. There was no harm in letting him ascend.
Iphigenia hopped back two strides. She widened her stance and cocked her hip. Her enemy had two options: to attack or escape. If he meant to run, from this angle and distance she could nail him in the back. If he meant to fight, then she could welcome his dive with another Aulis' Promise to the face, or maybe even her fist.
"What's wrong? Planning on running away?" Taunting your enemy was never a good idea. But Iphigenia felt that she had every advantage."It seems like a habit among the Negaverse, turning tail and bolting like rabbits."
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:35 am
Yes, taunt. Look up and into the light. Blind yourself so my descent is easier. He remained silent overhead, watching her while he waited on his arm to regain some modicum of feeling. The seconds dragged; he wondered if there was point to trying, or if the nerves would remain dead for hours. The hunter couldn't remember the last time he lost use of an arm. He balanced, and she kept talking.
A habit among the Negaverse? Do we have high incidence of cowards? It's important to survive an encounter like this, but are they retreating after discovering their disadvantage or doing so upon sight of her? As a captain, I need to touch base with the lieutenants. Among so many other tasks.
I need to focus.
Umber hesitated a moment before he dropped down toward her in a dive that might land him on her shoulders. If he managed it, the impact might knock her to the ground - and if she lay across the pavement for even a moment, their close proximity benefitted well to the studs that sat over his knuckles. Though if he missed, it might place him in point-blank range of his magic - and he hoped the sluggishness of his exhausted mind might keep up well enough to prevent this. Her attack left significant injury, as evidenced by his arm, and he loathed to encounter it twice.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:34 am
She was tense in anticipation. The man sat there unmoving and Iphigenia watched with hawk-eyes. A single moment was all he needed to gain the upper-hand. Having gained the advantage, she was loathe to give it up.
Umber's muscles tensed, and Iphigenia knew he was planning to move. A life time of watching the jumpers at the meet let her predict his arc quickly. She moved one step back and gathered her magic in her hands. The silver mist solidified into a ball of pulsing magic and Iphigenia stared straight into his eyes. He was close enough that she could make out the two snake heads on his stomach, the red markings on his neck and arms.
This close, there was no need to let the magic fly. "Aulis' Promise!" She shouted as she shoved the sphere of magic up and straight towards his chest with all the might she could muster.
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:50 am
Trajectory and physics left him at a bad angle. Adrenaline sped his perceptions to incredible speed- though it only managed to slow the impending impact. He watched it furiously, a mix of rage and disappointment temporarily coloring his visage before its impact. He knew it would hurt, possibly like the swipe of a grizzly bear.
The orb struck squarely and winded him immediately. The trajectory of the blast mitigated his own inertia and essentially dropped him to the spot, not far from his intended target. His sternum ached painfully, though, and he struggled against covering over it with one of his hands. The pain woke him up somewhat, but even seconds later, such a boon started to fade. His lids grew heavy despite the need to remain conscious and alert. His body, pressed to its limits, wanted to shut down against his will.
And this meager senshi would stand to profit from his exhaustion.
He had no starseeds to draw energy from and what orbs he had often went to bolstering his quota returns. Nothing beyond his weapons remained in his repertoire to fight a foe that was obviously experienced and more rested than he. Escape came to his mind as an option - he had no want of glory nor interest in death or grievous injury - but he would prefer to cripple and detain this foe over surrendering while she was still fresh. Umber struggled to breathe as it was, and any attempted attack would likely be his last.
Their distance was close - he wagered too close for her to squeeze off another one of her attacks before he reached her - so he opted for a final frontal assault. He raised no fist; instead, as Umber drew close, he dropped shoulder to strike her in the gut and wind her just the same.
It didn't matter if it landed or not. He played a game of pettiness with the last of his energy, and he knew it.Minsuil i am sorry i am so slow ~_~ so much going on irl
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:58 pm
The orb struck him, and felled him, like a rock hitting a bird. This close, Iphigenia could see the pale blue of his eyes. She took just a single step backwards. Even if he was going to attack, Iphigenia was certain of her own victory. The man looked haggard. Maybe, she thought, he would run. The agents she'd met had done the same thing in situations a lot less dire.
He got up again. She was not surprised, was almost impressed. Iphigenia expected a fist, a kick, an angry shout. She did not expect his shoulder to ram into her gut.
The slam knocked the wind out of her lungs and knocked her off her feet. She fell against the asphalt, skin scraping off her legs and hands, red blood dripping. Not enough to be serious, but blood was blood. Iphigenia knew its power.
Like Umber, she was loath to give-up. She raised her hands again, a wicked grin on her face. Warm red blood dripped from the scratches to the ground. Drawing up the magic was harder this time, but she summoned a familiar ball of light to her hands.
"I'd start running now if I were you."Strickenized please don't worry about it! take care of yourself first /rubs your back ; v;
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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:20 am
His strike caused damage - a lot of damage. Whether that was the fault of captain's strength or her weak constitution, he did not care. The enemy lay fallen and attempted no recovery. In fact, she laid there with hands poised and another brilliant light forming between palms.
In that breath, Umber weighed his options. He knew the pain of that sphere, the injury it could cause. He knew he may wind up winded from her attack. Bruising became an inevitability. Pain sounded negligible - already his body ached and he maintained enough determination to suppress it. His arm hadn't recovered, but she wouldn't aim for that; he imagined that she'd target his face as most did.
He traded these negatives against one single truth: if he drew close enough to her, then he may wrench the starseed from her body. He could end this one, or corrupt her, or eat the very soul that powered her in a striking display of derision. The lattermost thought surprised him somewhat, as he never previously placed much stock in personal retaliations against the enemy, but that hesitance gave way nigh immediately. He found no time to dawdle; Umber needed to act before she squeezed off the shot and potentially thwarted any other attack.
So he committed to his choice. The captain started toward her with the last of his strength and summoned chaos to hand for a last strike to the starseed.
His actions spoke all the response he needed.Minsuil feel free to go for the KO!
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:23 am
Umber was fast. The Chaos he gathered in his hand sent shivers down her spine. She had no idea what it was, but she knew that it was his last stand. His last trick. The last card up his sleeve.
Iphigenia was not afraid.
Despite the hits she'd taken, she was stronger now than ever. The more blood the Negaverse agent drew, the more pain he'd take. She let the magic fly straight towards his sternum. If it hit, then there was no way he could continue fighting. If it didn't hit...
No, she thought, it will hit. I cannot miss.Strickenized Sorry for the wait! T _T;;
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 11:20 pm
Speed could not accomplish the feats asked of instantaneous relocation. He knew, the moment she cast it, that he lacked all speed and power to outrun her. Her, a simple senshi, and he, a Negaverse captain. He cursed himself for misjudging a foe, for refraining from calling backup on an attack that grew outside his level of capability in the given moment. He cursed himself for allowing his self-care to slip so far, and to reduce himself to a state of such inefficiency that he could not stop a basic senshi. He cursed himself for the irresponsible nature he delved into once receiving the amount of tasks that he had.
But what did it matter now? His fate was coming, and he could not outrun it.
The blow struck squarely against his chest and the coming pain blackened his vision. He felt consciousness slip a moment, surge back to presence, and his body stumbled with the act. Legs moved lacking coordination for a few feet before the captain collapsed to the ground in an unceremonious heap. He lay, now, a few feet beyond his target, lower half still in the sodium yellow gaze of a street lamp. His breathing came in slow draws that barely disturbed the scanty litter of gravel on the sidewalk.
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 11:06 am
He fell. Hit the ground with a thud that filled Iphigenia with a sense of abstract pride. Adrenaline ran through her veins, and her heart was racing. Odd how she hadn't felt it at the time.
I did it. She thought as she loosened her stance. No, she corrected herself. I knew I could.
She took one look at the fallen Captain before stepping over him, and onward, into the darkness of the alley to return home.Strickenized I think we can end here! Hit me up whenever you want for Umber's revenge. : )
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