The beginning of the End (Artefact Battle) (PvP)

[Enel]

I rise up, twirling my staff above my head.

I’m not really in the mood for theatrics anymore.

Lightning sparks through the gold, building to a crescendo.

Not when some powerless little prick decides to interrupt my fight. I was enjoying that. The metal man was almost worth my time! This tiny mortal … is so arrogant. Demanding my attention. Well, I’ll give it to him.

I rear my arm back, and

Mantra.

A hooked dart, right in the neck.

I jerk myself to the side as uncontained sparks fly loose of my carefully-charged move. I seethe through gritted teeth: “DIE!” as I throw my hand forward.

But as I fire, something taps against my neck. A wire! It flicks around my neck, strangling me momentarily. In that moment, my energy cascades out in fruitless misdirection. I panic and scrape my fingernails against the wire.

Mantra.

He’s yanking me down …!

The wire goes taut around my neck. I’m stronger than him, but struggling just cuts off my windpipe even more. I get my fingers under the wire and in one sharp, strong motion, I break it!

Mantra.

Guns …!

The bullets graze me, I’ve no time to dodge. Damnable wire. That dart! I won’t be fooled again by such cheap tricks.

I keep my distance, watching him. He continues to shoot, so I move upwards, weaving my way through the bullets with the help of my mantra. It’s difficult to keep my head clear, with how many times he’s managed hit me. Shame tinges my cheeks. I have to wreck him. Ruin him. But if I’m not careful, my anger will get the better of me. And that’s unbecoming of God.

I slow my breathing.

Very well then. As he shoots, I begin to rain down bolts from above.

Beneath that unassuming appearance he hides surprising skill. After about five or six bolts, he’s managed to dodge them all. I pause. I don’t like to waste energy.

In the few minutes since this fight began, more and more have begun to join the fray. If I’m not careful …

My whole body goes cold as I remember the agony of death. The momentary contortion as my bones, blood and sinew are crunched together.

… I will not give Omni the satisfaction of watching me experience death a second time. But neither will I retreat. I will establish dominance over these mortals, resolve whatever conflict is jarring them so, and then take my rightful place as their leader.

And if they refuse?

A more satisfying memory reaffirms my vigor, calms my racing heart. That of my hand taking Ganondorf’s life.

You can’t refuse death.

I power up to my maximum again. It’s time to stop playing games with these mortals.

My target, that weasel of a mortal being, has ducked to the sidelines. But I can see him. My orbit doesn’t escape his notice, either. He raises his guns at me as I float across to the sky above him.

“Getting away? Tut tut tut.”

His pistols fire at me. It’s so easy, in my powered-up state, to see and dodge the bullets. I could almost pluck them out of the air. Cheeky little buggers. Instead, I make my way into the man’s personal space. I get up reaaal close. Before he knows it, I’m standing between his outstretched arms, and I can see the shock and surprise on his face. I chuckle and place a hand on his chest.

“Vari.”

Electricity coalesces from my whole body into that point of impact. A few droplets of blood escape from his mouth as he flies backwards, skidding across the floor. His jacket is smoking.

To his credit, he’s not one to let a little internal bleeding stop him. Almost immediately he reaches for a weapon on his back. But I’m there. My hand is on his throat.

“You got a little blood there,” I say to him, gesturing with my free hand to his lips.

I wait for a response. “You … you got …”

“Eh?” I lean in. “Speak up, you’re-UGUNGH!”

Piercing pain in my side. I stagger backwards, letting him go. Fresh claret spills out onto the white floor. Why …?

I stare accusingly back at him, and see the hidden blade slide back into his wrist compartment. I see him rub his neck as he finishes his sentence: “… A little blood there, too.”

Son of a bitch … I stagger but maintain my foothold. It’s not too deep. I can …

Mantra.

Something explodes in my face, throwing me backwards.

I spy him raising that rifle. That must have been what he’d been reaching for. I stumble out of the way as the grenade goes flying.

He fumbles with the weapon. I grit my teeth. As I raise my hand to unleash electricity, he dives out of the way. One more time he raises the weapon and I move in, my feet sounding like thunder against the ground to cross the distance. Just as the bullet’s psychic echo grazes my skull, I duck, speeding underneath and clutching my hand into a punch that buries itself in his belly.

Satisfying.

My next uppercut grazes his chin enough to make him stagger. He’s forgotten the rifle and he’s using his hands to deflect me, admittedly with great skill. But every touch of my arms sends a jolt through his body. I grin. He’s not showing it, but I know mortals can’t touch me without feeling pain. Such is their punishment for aspiring beyond their proper place. He reaches for a dagger.

I stop him. “Ah ah ah,” I reprimand, hand clenched around his wrist. I up the voltage and watch him squeal. Ha ha, I’m going to enjoy this.

“Now tell me. What are you all fighting over? What’s so important?”

Tier 1 Powered-Up Form: Sparking! Used for 1 post. 1/3 SP remaining.

Shay used a bunch of stuff – his rope darts, grenade launcher, daggers, hidden blade. Enel used all his non-super moves.

[Mitsuki]

Mitsuki panted, blood trickled from a trio of wounds. He clamped a hand to his side, stemming the majority of the blood flow. He grimaced slightly as his foot twinged, pain searing upwards. Almost too much to take. He was pinned, he’d need a distraction to get out of this.

“Care to tell me what’s going on here?” His assailant questioned. 

The boy glared, snaking his hand down into the pouch at his hip, coiling his fingers through the loop of two of the five remaining Kunai. Such audacity. To dive in and attack without even prior knowledge of the matter. 

“Most are here, after the blade of Sasuke Uchiha, the Sword of Kusanagi.” Mitsuki spoke out, barely containing the strain it took, “The Red masked man carries it, he issued a challenge. I am here to ensure the blade it returned to it’s rightful owner or the village of his origin.” As abruptly as his speech came to an end, so too came the Shinobi’s retaliation in the form of one of the knives slicing through the air, grazing past the red head’s ear. She had not dropped her guard. A bloodied squelch resounded as the Shinobi set about removing the obstacle that pinned his foot. He tossed the blade aside and in the same instant, launched the second Kunai. The woman ducked, the knife hurtling past inches above her head and he bolted, stumbling over the first few steps.. 

A pair of coral spikes jutted from the ground, halting the ninja’s advance, forcing him to hop back a few feet. The boy clenched his right hand around the wrist of his left for a brief moment before throwing a punch into the air. Instead of snakes, however, this time Mitsuki’s fist extended, hurtling through the air towards the witch. He managed to grasp onto the woman’s collar and with that, an opening. Mitsuki clenched his free fist and flew towards the witch, who was still fighting against his grip. He ground to a halt and slammed the fist into Schwarz’s gut, causing her to double over, only to receive a heavy knee to the face, blood instantly erupting from her nose as the bones within cracked and ruptured. 

Chronoire managed to suppress a scream, her blade flicking to life and launching itself at the ninja.  The boy ducked, instinctively, and the blade dug itself into the brilliant white ground behind him. Coiled like a spring, Mitsuki leapt into the air and delivered a spinning heel kick to the side of the witch’s head, sending her reeling to the ground, dizzied by the strike. Mitsuki dashed forwards once more and straddled the woman, producing a Kunai from within the pouch and placed it against the witch’s exposed neck as she began to gather her senses about her. 

“I’ve no quarrel with you..” Mitsuki spoke but was cut short by the witch’s forehead connecting with his own. He dragged the knife along the skin of her neck, slicing a shallow gash along the width as he reeled backward, yet another coral spike rising from the ground and punching into his shoulder. The ninja allowed himself a brief pause, gritting his teeth through the searing pain in his shoulder. He grimaced and raised the kunai in the air and slammed the knife through the coral, freeing his arm up as yet more blood stained his jacket. Mitsuki exhaled shakily and took to his offence once again. A few tender steps followed up by a burst of speed saw Mitsuki close the gap between the battered pair, weaving seals as he moved. A deep inhale and another Kunai sent flying through the air. The witch dodged the kunai almost instinctively, only to be peppered by the Shinobi’s Wind Style. 

It knocked the breath from her lungs and threw her backward a few feet, giving her enough time to summon another one of her swords, the blade hovering threateningly behind her. The Shinobi broke into an all out sprint, attempting to keep the witch on the defence at the very least. He danced around the woman, nicking at her with the blade of his Kunai, whilst remaining in motion as much as possible so as to avoid the telekinetically controlled sword that lingered around the witch. Eventually, the ninja made some ground. The kinetic blade managed to launch the kunai from Mitsuki’s grip, who instantaneously threw himself into a forward somersault, his heel connecting with the loop of the Kunai which, in turn, sent the knife hurtling toward Chronoire, cutting a neat gash in her cheek. She flung her kinetic sword towards the Shinobi, managing to open up yet another gash upon his person. He stumbled to the side and put on yet another turn of speed, weaving a pair of seals as he closed in. 

“Sen’ei Jashu!” Mitsuki cried, the snakes erupted from his sleeve and clamped their fanged jaws around the witch’s neck, threatening to end her in one fell swoop, were it not for the Oceanic Blade that hovered ominously at the nape of his neck. 

“So, where do we go from here?” Chronoire managed to wheeze. 

857 words according to googledocs

Mitsuki used everything ever
Chronoire used everything aside from her dagger
We both have experienced pain.

[Joline]

My back probably looks like a cheese grater with all the holes in it. They’re like paper cuts, but worse. It feels like it takes everything not to just curl up and start sobbing.

I can’t help but shudder at the thought of that kick from earlier, too. The thought of having more ribs shattered sickens me to my beaten, fractured core.

The anger I felt seems petty in retrospect. It seems like nothing compared to what I feel now - the urge to turn the guy who issued this challenge into mincemeat, the desire to run this tin can-looking bastard through a recycling plant…

...It does nothing but grow as a blindingly bold green Z approaches at terrifying speed. I know I can’t move fast enough to dodge it. If I just stand here and take it, I’m going to die.

I empty my hands in favour of my only means of defense - Beskyttende. I grab for Brug Hild, too, hoping it can help me brace my shield somehow.

I thrust Beskyttende out before me, my eyes wild and my throat boiling as I howl with pain, anger, confusion, sadness--

Determination.

I don’t want to die.

The impact is far greater than I could ever hold against. I stand my ground, but it slides beneath me and cracks like I never thought something nonexistent could.

I flinch, and it’s enough for the overwhelming force I’m resisting to win out. My arms fly to my sides as far as they can stretch, and my newly-acquired sword and shield hurtle off into the distance.

I have enough time for I just got those and they’re already gone to run through my mind before I hit the ground and start flailing and sliding.

The world’s a blur as I tumble backwards, hitting the invisible surface below me numerous times in varying places. If I didn’t hurt so badly all over, I’d laugh at myself, but even just moving like normal hurts.

I begin to approach my opponent again. I notice myself smiling and faintly giggling - I’m not trying to. In fact, no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop. Crimson tears run from a cut on my cheek, dripping the awful, metallic taste of it into my mouth.

I turn my face aside for a moment to spit. It comes out more red than clear, to my distaste. If not for the adrenaline, I’d probably be recoiling and screaming thanks to that sight. “So where were we?” I ask a little weakly. “Not sure I remember. Hit my head a few more times than I’d like to admit.”

My black armor-clad opponent kindly reminds, “you were calling me a toaster.”

I laugh a bit and begin a slow advance. Magical teal sparks dance between my waggling fingertips as I conjure Kanshou and Bakuya again. “Yeah. It makes sense,” I reply slowly. “A toaster is a machine encased in a hard material which gets hot on the inside. You’re also that.”

My cheeky expression doesn’t falter. I continue to beam as I draw close. “Therefore,” I conclude, “you are a toaster.”

I notice my opponent bring down what looks like a blade of concentrated light. With a sort of speed I thought I would lose with my legs in such an exhausted state, I blink around to behind him, evading what might have been a lethal strike. “Well, aren’t you rude,” I say snarkily. “Back to fighting, then.”

Letting out a battlecry hurts, but I still manage as I swiftly etch a shallow Z into the back of his torso. My blades shatter into millions of pieces after impact, forcing me to flip and leap backwards so I can rematerialize them. Doing so returns the hot, numbing sensation of my Magic Circuits powering up again, forming the alien yet familiar swords in my hands once more.

Without a word I dash forward again. With a copy of my lost shield my armored adversary fights off my all-out assault, relying not only on my constantly replaced swords, but on occasional kicks and elbows and shoulder-heavy tackles as well. I etch the same marking in after circling around again, making it deeper and shattering another pair of blades.

Where the blade had once been on my opponent’s arm, a glowing blob of the same coloured energy amasses. His arm outstretched, he takes aim, looking down the limb as though down the sight of a gun. I can’t do anything at range, I note. I can’t just keep running off to recover.

I draw in, predicting and avoiding an assault of what I observe to some comic degree as neon lemons. I’m fast enough to avoid them - which I’m thankful for, given that taking more than a few would likely be the end. As I draw closer, nearly close enough to continue my act of revenge, that gut feeling arrives again. Look up.

A golden staff whistles through the air and down toward me, threatening to crush my skull if I don’t move. I sidestep and wind makes my now tattered jacket billow. I dip and hop over a second and third swing. My retort is a spinning kick which connects with what should be his temple. The resulting sound is like a church bell butchered by vibrato. “Toast’s ready!”

I flash around my opponent once more. Moving like this hurts. I feel like I’ve torn every muscle in my legs and breathing is like lighting a fire in my lungs.

Once more.

This time my opponent’s torso makes noises close to rattling a trashcan as I make my predetermined three cuts again. That’s definitely going to leave a mark now.

I can hold on. I can last until the end of this fight, I think. I don’t know whether I really believe that or if I’m just trying to convince myself by now. You have the speed advantage. You can avoid whatever punishment he throws at you…

As long as he doesn’t do that again.

Precisely 1000 words. SORCERY.

Jojo took a Super Move to the chin.
Both Beskyttende and Brug Hild have flown very far from the battlefield. Jojo can no longer use them.
Jojo used Kanshou & Bakuya a lot.
Colonel used Colonel Saber and Colonel Buster, as well as Nanosoma Bo from Enel.
This has been your irregularly scheduled Jojo time. Have a good one.

[Albert Wesker]

Colonel staggers as the latest series of strikes rain down on his torso, carving deep into the metal plating and eliciting a crackle of static as his inner workings are clipped. Exposed to the open air of the nexus, they sizzle and spark violently, producing a warning on his internal display about the damage. Inconsequential.

He rounds on the girl, swinging his saber in a blistering green arc. She ducks, skirting under and around the blow, coming up with those twin swords of hers again. A swift one-two-three of strikes leave a ringing echo, and a new series of dents and a deep gouge in his chest. His limited patience is rapidly diminishing. There was only one target he was truly after in this fight. He needed to get to him.

Another flurry of strikes come at him, courtesy of Joline. He meets them head-on. A swift, powerful step-in blow from his saber collides with one, cleaving through and shattering it into countless shards and pieces. The other smashes against his shoulder, joining its sister blade in exploding into pieces. The young woman tries to leap out of range again, but the soldier navi was having none of it. Not this time. He lunges after her, his free left hand latching onto her by the forearm, and keeping her securely anchored within his reach. "No. No more games," he says quietly, tone as flat and lifeless as ever. A dim glow slowly builds in his eyes. "You're in the way." Those were his final words to her, as sparks leapt from about his fingers, coursing along Joline's arm and into her body, producing a sickening squirm and tightening of her entire body as the electricity flashes through her.

The cyber soldier's eyes blaze with light, and around him the ground trembles. His cape whips up, thrown directly out behind him as if caught in a fierce wind. His eyes tremble and shake wildly, the pale green split by a line of black, spreading into a slitted, vertical pupil. Purple light flickers up around him, darkening into a deep aura of violet flame. The mass of chaotic power blazes up, twice again as high and broad as the navi lost within it. The glare of pale green glows visibly from within it, and as suddenly as it began, it stops. With the maddened, primal howl of a great beast set on the hunt, the blaze of power explodes outward, leaving Colonel standing there, his appearance radically changed. Where there had once been a sleek, armored soldier robot, there was now a primal, almost bestial-looking robotic...thing. As much beast as humanoid, clawed hand still wrapped around Joline's arm, shaggy mane of hair whipping about behind him and heaving deep, unnecessary breaths.

A grin slowly splits his features, and he hefts the ragged form of the young woman in his grasp up, hauling her off the ground by her arm. The glow in his eyes flares as he whirls about, toward the rest of the fight, and bursts into motion. He viciously drags the barely-cognizant Joline with him. Tearing across the void, clawed boots thundering and gouging at the ground as he makes a headlong charge right for his primary target. He barges heedlessly through the chaotic battle sprawling around him, ignoring and smashing through anything in his path.

The lightning-man, Enel, currently in the midst of continuing his engagement with the one called Shay, receives only a passing strike. His ability to see such things coming aided him greatly, and he leaps up, curling into a flip that let him avoid the worst of the hit. The sheer force behind the maneuver, hurling Joline bodily at him, still clipped his heels, sending him into a comical spiral and intensifying his flip, but leaving him to land — albeit awkwardly and unsteadily — on his feet. The fury radiating off of him was an almost tangible thing, his teeth bared in a snarl, and a bolt of lightning was launched after the impudent machine-beast.

A snarling response was given, the primally distorted form of Colonel ducking to one side, bracing his movement with his clawed hand and rounding on the so-called god. A look of contempt was written on his features, and in a blur his empty hand came up, claws crackling with sparks, and hurled a bolt of his own in response to distract the arrogant man before he lurched back into motion. He had no time for this. The beast was loose; but its power was more than could really be maintained for long. This had to be finished now.

He closed in with single-minded determination on the target of his hunt: the Red Hood. Locked in a fight with his own opponent of the moment, his focus was elsewhere, even as the bestial soldier drew ever nearer. A deep, bass rumble rises from the soldier program, pitching higher into a growl as he barked out two short words. "RED HOOD!" Then he was upon the two fighters.

The heavily-wounded Erik was caught completely off-guard, and had only barely managed to regain his feet when a mass of fury and force met him, smashing him aside like a thing of straw. He brings a defense to bear, weapons at the ready and a desperate lunge back to avoid the crazed beast. It is all for naught. A cry of pain, the devastating wound in his torso clearly aggravated by the impact. He flops and rolls away, out of immediate range of concern.

Colonel's eyes settle on the Red Hod, and the vigilante takes half a step back. It is answered by a matching step forward, the jagged sword of the hunter rising. "No more of this madness!" he snarls, his eyes quivering on the border of madness. "No more interruptions!" And he strikes, bringing down a devastating hammer blow. "Fight! To the end!"

1000 words exactly...AGAIN! :frogsiren: (according to on-site wordcounter)

Joline used Kanshou & Bakuya, Foresight, Burst Movement
Used Colonel Saber
Mimicked: Lightning Body (Enel)
Colonel activated T2 Power Up: Beast Out for the remainder of the round (0/5 SP remaining)
Used mimicked Burst Movement (Joline)
Enel used Bolt
Mimicked: Bolt (Enel)

Colonel's current stats, while powered up:
ATK: 8
DEF: 5
SPD: 6
TEC: 3

[Joline]

I hit the ground with a heavy thump, probably caused by something in me breaking. I don’t want to know what. I don’t have it in me to even try breaking my fall, so I don’t. My body crumples weakly to the ground, arms sprawled out at either side.

My face feels hot and my vision starts to blur. Trying to breathe starts to feel funny, and muscles all over my face start to twitch.

My whole body follows. I try to stand, but my limbs only seem to respond by curling me into a snivelling, snotty, teary, bloody and sweaty ball. Nothing wants to respond. Everything feels either strange, broken or horribly pained, or some combination of the three. I… don’t think I can name a part of my body that isn’t damaged to what seems like a point beyond repair.

Why did I do this?

I’m outclassed. It’s blatantly, painstakingly clear now. The proof isn’t just in the pudding - it’s in the electrical burns, the bloody cuts, the blackened bruises, the smoking bullet holes… everywhere. I had no hope in Hell of winning today.

My body is broken. I’ve lost.

...In that moment, something comes to me. Distant sounds of awful squeaking noises, mixed in with some incredibly simple melody. Through my mind’s eye I see… a face, like my own, but older. Faintly smiling as it watches intently.

The song stops, and for a moment, what looks like a violin passes my line of sight. You’ll get it, goes a voice even more like my own than the face was. Just keep working at it. And remember…

...I can’t see clearly. I hear another sniffle. It’s… high-pitched and a little squeaky. I sound like I did a few hours ago. I sound like a child.

...You’re not gonna get it perfect the first time.

I can’t help but smile a little, myself, as I hear her repeat, just keep working at it. I’m proud of you.

“Can’t give up yet,” I puff, my voice wavering. With my torn jacket sleeve I rub my eyes dry, maneuvering my now-limp left arm with my right. “Gotta keep going…”

Him. Where this all began. His sword. It was important to her. I don’t know how, but it was. And after I do in the aluminum wall between me and it… it’s mine. I don’t care what it takes. I’m getting a hold of that thing if it kills me.

“No more interruptions!”

“No,” I hiss. If I had even half my brain left intact right now, I’d know how cheesy I’m being as I say, “One more.” At that, I leap back.

“Trace on,” I whisper, calling Kanshou and Bakuya to my sides. The next instant I leap forward. As I whistle through the air, my body begs me to simply give into the pressure being exerted on my body - to just let myself fall over again and maybe have a bit of a nap…

...Which must be what this tin-can motherfucker reads from me as I fly beneath his arm and skid to a stop in front of the bugger that started this fight in the first place. “Cheers,” I breathe before I blink backwards, backflip and send both my blades crashing into either side of my true opponent’s head - the metal prick that thought it was a good idea to throw me! “Dual Comet Strike!”

As my last breath - used perhaps unwisely to shout an improvised special move name - escapes my lungs, my eyes turn to the ground. Though I haven’t left it for even a proper second, it seems eager to meet me again… and I still don’t have the energy to break my fall.

...But somebody else does. I tilt my head shakily to whoever’s holding me. There’s an arm at my back and under my knees, and they seem to belong to the same person who caught me before. At least, I think so. It’s a bit hard to tell.

Is he… smiling? Or is he saying something…?

My last proper thought before everything goes out of focus is, by all rights, I shouldn’t have been able to pull that off… whatever that was.

“I…”

“...think I need a nap…”

I'D LOVE TO WRITE IN QUOTES WHAT I DID BUT THE PERSON AFTER ME IS PRESSED FOR TIIIIIIIME
705 words according to Google Docs.
GOOD LUCK 'CAUSE I THINK I'LL NEED IT

[Shay Cormac]

Shay could almost feel his hair rising as Enel's hand grasped onto the Templar's wrist. Not much minding the static electricity coursing through him at the moment, Shay was more than enough shocked at the honestly impudent question asked by the 'God.'

Did he really just pop into a random fight shooting at random people for fun?

By the Father of Understanding, this man really wasn't just an arrogant bastard, he was legitimately a psychopath.

"You..." Shay began, "seriously have no idea?" The man wanted to put his free hand not being grabbed onto his face in utter disappointment, yet the Templar simply sighed.

The captain sat in silence for a few seconds, Enel already losing his patience.

"Well, what is it--"

"An artifact, you goddamn fool! I cannot believe you ask this question now of ALL times," Shay interrupted. Enel was shocked for a single second, but... the man of lightning got what he asked for, at least.

"Hah! What a polite mortal you are. I was almost expecting I’d have to shock the answer out of you, but..." Enel smiled a crooked smile, a wicked grin comparable to the twitchy and powerful nature of the thunder he soon surged through his hand.

Shay regretted not simply kicking the man straight in the jaw before answering, now that he felt like the result of Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment. Even more electricity burned through his coat and into his skin, and with a shaky cry of pain, Shay pulled his assaulter over and slammed the heel of his boot into the man's bottom lip anyways, knocking them both back.

The God immediately stood himself upwards, and Shay couldn't even see what was going on in the few passing seconds that Enel was immediately taken back by Colonel.

Not wanting to lift his own body up, the Templar groaned to express his rather intensifying aches. Honestly, laying on a blank floor with literally nothing to look at but white and the occasional man or woman shooting at each other felt like being in the warm embrace of nice bedding at the current moment, the sleeves on his jacket still smouldering due to Enel.

Looking over, Shay's blurry vision locked onto the strange woman whom happened to be in the midst of the fighting before he ran in.

Her hair... Shay rubbed at his eyes.

"Agnès...?"

Rather slowly and a tad elegantly, the woman raised her bleeding and shaking body from the floor, wheezing intensely.

It couldn't have been, could it have? The brunette hair, clothing... Sighing, the captain could feel that frustration a mile away.

Closing his eyes, Shay kept it that way for a good few seconds, his gut knotting up at the thought of her again. In the instant he opened his eyes, the Templar saw as the woman strode up towards her previous attacker and attempted to skewer him. Shay closed his eyes again in response to a sudden sting in his side.

If there ever was a more appropriate time to use the phrase “blink and you’ll miss it,” now would have been a splendid time.

The bloodied and battered woman violently crashed backwards in the direction of the captain, Shay reaching his arms out in instinct. Rather skillfully, the man once again caught the woman whom happened to fall in his arms before.

Though Shay caught her again, the execution by no means was perfect, and this time it seemed much more urgent. She felt heavier than last time, and at the current moment, Shay couldn’t tell whose blood was whose. Were her eyes always blue? Maybe now wasn’t the time to worry about this.

The Templar looked up at the metallic soldier whom this girl was previously trying to slash into ribbons, not happy at all at what had just happened. Shay couldn’t exactly hear what the man was saying, but it sounded appropriately intimidating. Seeing him so angry made Shay smirk just a bit.

Then, he looked over at Shay.

“Dammit,” the captain whined. Rising up to his feet, Shay felt his rather animalistic instincts tell him to backpedal, though that alone was becoming increasingly difficult with a human body only a few proper hits away from becoming a corpse now in his hands.

Fortunately for the two Primes, Red-Hood raised his pistols only a few meters away from Colonel. Nobody could see it, but Jason Todd was amused with how many easy targets he was being presented with.

Gunshots followed, and the sparks you’d expect to see come flying from a robot upon being gunned down followed. Though Joline was about to pass out over the current pain she was in, Shay looked down and saw her wince at the sudden noise, more than likely because she got the exact same treatment only moments ago.

Turning around, Shay looked behind to make sure nobody was on his tail.

Unfortunately for him, as soon as he looked ahead, Enel stood with his hand raised. Shay knew what was going to happen next, and the Templar needed to avoid it somehow.

Sweat forming at his brow, Shay realized he had no hands free as the lightning tosser waded towards him with a sick smile still plastered on his face. The man kept looking around for any alternatives whatsoever, considering kicking the man to death wasn’t going to work, as much of a point it would have proven.

Gritting his teeth, Shay couldn’t see Erik Vrell anywhere. Wanting to clench his fists, Shay instead placed Agnès down onto the floor behind him on her back, hoping it wouldn’t affect her wounds in any way.

The Templar knew he didn’t have any shots in his rifle handy, nor was he in any effective range to consider attacking head on. Shay needed to get out of the way before he fired another one of his bolts, hoping Enel was aiming at him and not anybody else.

Shay’s heart sank in intensity, reaching for a throwing knife and tossing.

Final post, 1,000 words exactly once again.

Shay used his throwing knives, Red-Hood used his dual pistols to keep Colonel's aggro. Unfortunately, a very confused Shay finds himself sandwiched between them and Enel only a slight few meters away with Joline in his arms again.

[Red-Hood]

The battle in the Nexus raged on as each combatant chose their own personal squabbles to become apart of. It seemed as though everyone had forgotten the purpose of the fight. The artefact that still hung around Red Hood's back. 

Red himself had forgotten the purpose of the fight, the power of the Lazarus pit consumed him with anger. Seeing Cornel distracted, the vigilante fired a few shots into the technowarrior's back. The bullets grazed the robot, who merely grunted in reply. It seemed that the appearance of the self proclaimed god was more of a threat at the present moment.

 Time seemed to slow down for him as he returned his focus on the physic Erick Vrell. Had he not been consumed with bloodlust he could have logically seen that his attack had truly missed the intended target. Him. However in his current state, the attack on his only friend since appearing in the omniverse had become personal. The jade hue still engulfed Red as he calmly began to walk towards Erik. With a swift have motion Red let loose another flash bang. Erick saw the attack but in his current state he could not do much to defend against the binding and deafening affect from the small grenade. Red quickly depleted his inventory of his Batarangs. Erik tried his best to deflect the modified throwing knives but he was unable to deflect one. The bat shaped weapon sunk deep into the vulnerable flesh of Erik's leg. He gave a short cry of pain as he looked at the foreign object now lodged into his thigh.  Erik reached down, grasping the batarang and with one swift movement pulled it from his leg. Through gritted teeth he let loose another cry of pain. Erik threw the object on the ground and lifted his head to meet Red's glare. 

With a sickening crack Erik instead found a boot slamming into his face. Blood ran freely from the physic's mouth. Spitting blood he quickly rolled to the side to avoid another brutal kick.  Using his good leg Erik used his crouched position to vault upwards, bringing his blade Mageslayer slashing across Red Hood's face.  

Red stumbled backwards dazed and surprised from the sudden tenacity that his wounded foe and just exhibited. The attack had broken the vigilante's mask, exposing his left eye. A brilliant icy blue eye stared back at Erik. Red broke into laughter as he reached up and pulled the helmet from his head and tossing it aside. 

Underneath the crimson mask was the face of a scared young man. The most noticeable of the many disfigurations was a large letter J that had been branded on the side of his cheek.

"Looks like you still got some fight left in you Erik. That's good. It'll make killing you that much more enjoyable" Red spat, erupting in a maniacal laughter. Red pulled his knives from his belt as he charged Erik, slashing furiously. Erik swung his sword deflecting the fierce blows the crazed vigilante unleashed upon him.    Erik back peddled, attempting to put distance between them but Red proved to be to fierce as he continuously slashed and stabbed tirelessly.

Red feinted an over head slash before bringing his foot down hard into the still seeping wound in Erik's thigh. Erik screamed as he was brought to one knee, panting heavily as he tried valiantly to hold of Red's continuous attacks.

With a mighty blow Red knocked Mageslayer from the tired physic's hands. 

"Please, I just want to return the blade to its rightful place in New Babylon" Erik stammered as he coughed up a clot of blood. 

Red threw is head back as his cackling laughter filled the Nexus.

"No amount of begging will save you Erik" Red said, and evil smile displayed across his face. 

Red's arms began to glow a violent green as he placed his hands out, as if he were ready to receive a gift. After a few moments an obsidian sword appeared in his hands. It glowed virescently as  Red grasped it by the hilt. The blade began to glow a shade of lime, slowly growing brighter. Red's face reflected the line green hue as he smiled manically, laughter beginning to bubble from his toothy grin.

Red slashed the blade through the air. A large beam of pure lime green energy split through the air, closing the gap between the two combatants at an alarming rate. The blade immediately disappeared as Red's laughter met its pinnacle as he watched the the beam of energy sail towards the helpless Erik Vrell.

Used: Flashbangs, Batarangs, Dual knives and finally T1 super move Al gul's Saber on Erik

Sp: 0/3

781 words according to site

[Summer]

Where do we go from here?

Chronoire’s thoughts echoed her voice, though she didn’t show it. In spite of the snake currently latched onto her throat, she kept the same confident, if a bit pained smile. Her question only invited silence between the two fighters, the air settling around her words as the others raged on their own terms. Her eyes stared stoically, unblinking, into Mitsuki’s, even as she scoured her mind for a way out of this deadlock.

“Because I ain’t dying over some shitty sword,” she managed to choke out, the snake making it much more difficult than it needed to be, “and I sure as hell don’t care why you’re all fighting over it. Actually, let me rephrase my question.” Slowly and steadily, she lifted her left hand towards her dagger, ignoring the small, painful pulses as it raised. Its movement was concealed by her grey cloak, and the sound of the fabric was drowned out by her words. “What in the blazes is up with this world?” The hilt of her dagger settled nicely into the palm of her hand.

The blue-haired boy opened up his mouth to respond, and in that moment, the witch struck. A small flick of the finger, and the Oceanic Blade launched itself towards Chronoire Schwarz, scoring a shallow gouge across the side of her opponent’s neck as it traveled. Mitsuki’s response cut off into a choked noise, and the jaws of the serpent clamped harder around her throat. Fangs dug in for a brief moment, sending a jolt of pain through her neck before they suddenly relaxed, and the head of the snake, severed by the vivid blade, fell to the ground. She could vaguely feel a wet trickle down her neck.

Chronoire’s bloodied arm flashed forward, dragging the dagger out of its sheath and up across her body. Metal clashed against metal, sending a painful shock coursing through the wounds, and the smaller dagger sent the larger Oceanic Blade spinning into the distance. Now in the perfect position, the witch lunged forward, right arm reaching out towards the flying sword and grabbing at it with her power, while at the same time striking for the ninja’s heart with the dagger in her left.

Mitsuki furiously backpedalled, clumsily weaving between her haphazard slashes, hand dipping into his pouch. A quick gesture with her right hand again threw the sword, which pierced the ground just behind her adversary. Black metal flashed as the ninja retrieved a kunai from his pouch and promptly launched it at Chronoire, before his calf met with the edge of the sword pierced into the ground. The purple blade tore a ragged wound into his left leg, his own weight causing the metal to bite deeper in as he pitched backwards, falling onto the plain ground.

Pain engulfed the redhead’s torso as the projectile imbedded itself between her ribs. She stumbled forward a few more steps, coming to a shaky stop as her right hand wrapped around the kunai.

No.

There were more pressing matters. Chronoire released the handle, instead reaching out with her power towards the ground beneath Mitsuki. A vibrant coral spike erupted from the ground that had just been occupied by the boy’s chest, as he rolled frantically out of the way, leaving only a bloodstain soaking into the white. Within a moment he was back to his feet, tilting heavily to the side as he punched a fist out towards his assailant.

Wind slammed into the witch’s chest, pushing the kunai even deeper into her chest, and all the air out. Grey closed in from around her peripheral’s, slowing down only slightly as she forced herself to breath in. The weapon tore into her lungs, making that breath hard-fought. Seizing the opportunity, the blue-clad warrior lunged forward, a new blade in hand, and stabbed at her.

Chronoire released the dagger, letting it fall to the ground with a clatter as she reached for incoming blade. Her gloved hand wrapped around the kunai, the sharp edges easily slicing through fabric and skin alike, before coming to a halt inches from her neck, held steadily in her hand.

“...Fuck it,” Chronoire coughed out, nearly overwhelmed from the pure agony her left arm was now in. “Like I said, I ain’t dying over that sword. So how about you go fight all those people for it and we can talk later.”

735 Words according to google docs.
Chronoire has a kunai in her lungs, a shallow cut on her neck, and her left arm is gonna hate her after all this.
Mitsuki has a deep cut on his calf, a shallow cut on his neck, and a ded snek.
Chronoire has proposed a truce with Mitsuki.

[Erik Vrell]

Erik watched dejectedly as the green beam sailed towards him, Red Hood's laughter emphasising the direness of the situation. Erik was tempted to just lie down and let the beam kill him. He was tired and in incredible pain, and he just wanted to rest. One thing spurred him forwards, however. A burning desire to spite Red Hood to the best of his abilities.

Violet mist spewed from Erik's cloak, not just from the sleeves as it usually did, but from the myriad of holes torn in the fabric. The psi formed into a large bow in Erik's hands once again, and the psychic levelled the weapon at Red Hood. An arrow formed in the string, and Erik released it as the green beam struck him.

The blow sent Erik tumbling across the Nexus, splattering the white landscape with red and aggravating his wounds in the process. Spitting a wad of blood out of his mouth, Erik turned to watch his arrow. The violet projectile rocketed towards Red Hood, cutting his laughter short.

 The vigilante was knocked to the ground from the force of the impact, his wicked laughter turned to pained groans. His clothes were stained deep red form blood, but it was hard to tell how much was his own. Red Hoof rose to his feet with anger in his eyes, looking as if he fully intended to strangle Erik to death before Colonel charged him.

Grimacing to himself, Erik's eyes swept the battlefield, checking if Shay was ok. He was not pleased by what he saw. The Templar was being assaulted by a ridiculously dressed man who called himself God. What was really surprising, however, was the girl at Shay's feet. 

Erik had not noticed before, but she possessed some resemblance to Agnes, who Erik hadn't seen since the assault on New Babylon. Apparently both the girl, who was just beginning to stir, and Shay were at the "God's" mercy. Despite this, Shay still tossed a knife at Enel, in what Erik thought was an impressive display of bravery. 

Beginning the Herculean task of rising to his feet, Erik was nearly blinded by the pain and didn't see whether the knife had hit the God or not. However, Erik did see lightning building up in the man's hand, ready to strike down the Templar.

Mustering all his strength, Erik forced himself forward. Overwhelmed by the pain, Erik stumbled for a moment, before picking himself up and breaking into an unsteady run.

Doing his best to compensate for his limp, Erik "ran" to the Templar. Calling out with his mind, Erik simply said, "I am spent, friend. I'm gone, but don't die on me now." As Erik finished his mental sentence, Enel fired his bolt, and Erik threw himself in front of the pair, taking the shot.

Erik registered the pain for a moment, before hitting the ground. His work was done for now. Now, he could rest. And with that, the world went dark.

508 words.

Erik hit Red Hood with the psi bow (-1 SP) and got hit with Red's super in return.
Erik then got up and took the bullet for Shay and Joline.
Erik's not quite dead yet, but he will be soon.

[Mitsuki]

Mitsuki dropped the blood stained Kunai with a clang. He doubled over, hands clamped around his knees for support, panting heavily through the pain searing across his body. The next few moments were potentially the hardest for the Shinobi; the sheer willpower it took just to remain upright was no small feat to achieve. His knees shook under his own body weight, his vision wavered and his head rang with white noise, perhaps louder than anything he’d experienced. 

“I am.. Sorry,” Mitsuki spoke, his voice laboured, “the sword is valuable to Konoha and one of it’s inhabitants, I’d rather not see it fall into the hands of another stranger.” A bright smile crawled its way across the boys now grizzled visage, marred by blood. He scooped up the multitude of Kunai that littered the surrounding area, placing them back in the pouch as he went. He turned to face the Witch once more and offered her his hand. She hesitated for a brief moment, finally returning the gesture. Mitsuki performed the Seal of Reconciliation with the woman, wrapping his fore and middle fingers around hers, whilst the woman watched on, perplexed. Mitsuki smiled once more before turning on heel and leaving the Witch behind. He skirted around the outside of the Templar and God’s battle and threw himself into a run as he closed in on Red and Colonel. 

The Cyber Soldier had his back turned, presenting an opportunity for the Shinobi. He put on a laboured turn of speed and darted for Colonel, drawing a pair of Kunai in the process. Mitsuki launched himself for the soldier program, planting a foot on it’s back and using him as a springboard, throwing him into a high somersault over the program’s shoulder. The Shinobi landed gracefully, inches in front of Colonel. Upon landing, the ninja lunged forwards, sinking the pair of Kunai into the soldier’s stomach, eliciting a metallic crunch and a furious glare. Not a heartbeat later and the program had slammed his fist into the ninja’s cheek and sent him flying, much akin to a rag doll and continued his advance towards Red Hood. Mitsuki rolled to a halt a few feet away from Colonel, nursing a bleeding nose and a heavily bruised cheek. He moved to stand, only to drop to a knee once again, hand clutched at his heavily wounded chest. 

The Shinobi grimaced, determined to not let his struggle show any more than it already had done. He slammed his fist onto the tattered white of the nexus ground, pushing himself to his feet, albeit shakily. Mitsuki dipped his hand into the pouch holding his Kunai, produced one and threw it toward the program. No sooner than the Kunai had left his grasp, Mitsuki began weaving hand seals. With nigh on as much effort as he could muster, the boy inhaled deeply and let loose a violent stream of wind. The stream took the Kunai and accelerated until it finally made contact with the metallic armor of Colonel, punching its way through and into his inner workings while the wind knocked him backward a fraction. 

The Shinobi’s next move came in the form of a pair of snakes erupting from his sleeve and closing in on the program, wrapping their fanged maws around it’s extremities. Another burst of speed saw the ninja closing the gap between the combatants once more and unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks to the metallic surface of his opponent. He danced around the program with uncanny grace, considering his current state. The pain in his chest flared up once again, his assault halted for a mere moment. Mitsuki leapt into the air and threw himself into a shoddy spin. Another metallic clang echoed out from the Program as the Shinobi’s heel connected with its chin. The ninja dropped to the ground before Colonel and sprung backward, outside of the program’s heavy handed swing.  

Mitsuki ground to a halt some way away from Colonel, panting heavily. Another metallic thud rang through the Shinobi’s ears, giving away the Program’s advance. “I think I’ll use these..” it spoke as it willed a pair of snakes into existence, both of which sank their fangs into the boy’s wrist. Mitsuki launched his last ditch effort. He threw a punch toward the advancing program, warranting a perplexed gaze, at least until his forearm stretched and his fist connected with Colonel’s chin once again, halting the advance even for just a moment.

745 words

Mitsuki did some stuff
Colonel did some more stuff and copied some of Mitsuki's stuff

Good luck to everyone

[Albert Wesker]

His advance was halted, only for a few moments. But the interruption only served to add another dose of fuel to the fire of insanity that burned while Gregar's power flowed rampant through his systems. Slowly, his head turned back to stare at the young shinobi. For a brief instant, there was only a blank, cold expression on his face, same as always. Calculating, mechanical, starkly observant, but not much else. Then it cracked, splitting into a leering, malicious cast, and in a blur of movement the soldier program lunged forward, closing the distance between himself and the young Mitsuki in an instant, his massive hand closing around the ninja's face. A resounding, thunderous impact as the boy's head was slammed into the invisible ground of the nexus was the next thing heard, followed shortly by a wet snapping noise and a wheezing rattle of breath. Colonel's clawed boot was covered in blood, and left a clear trail as he charged heedlessly across the nexus toward the Red Hood.

He struck the vigilante with a wordless roar, sword flashing in a green arc and carving a bloody gash across chest and ribs as the man made an infuriatingly agile leap back, spinning about to face the new threat. The respite was only momentary, and Colonel pursued with a single-minded determination, his sword striking in a frenzied blur, first from this way, then the other, hammering in from above, scything in a vicious horizontal arc, putting the Red Hood on a frantic defense. It was far from perfect, however, even with the vigilante's clearer thinking and higher skill. The sheer force behind every blow, along with the maddening rage and frenzy that drove them overwhelmed him in a matter of moments. A devastating blow sheared through one of his knives, sending the broken fragments of the blade flying in all directions, and making any attempt at defense virtually fall apart. In a blur of emerald and crimson, the vigilante who had called this entire mess together was impaled on the cyber soldier's blade, lifted half a foot off the ground.

With nary a trace of grace or respect to be found, Colonel reached up, over the Red Hood's shoulder, and ripped the sheath bearing the sword that had been the bait for all of this off of his back. "This...is mine now," he said shortly. And with apparent disdain, he flicked his arm to the side, throwing the bleeding vigilante off his blade to roll along the ground. Keeping his sword arm pointed out toward where Red Hood lay, he let the sword flicker and die, transitioning into the massive barrel of his Gregar-empowered buster. A dull glow of power built up in the mouth of the weapon, spitting sparks of golden and green light. And Colonel grinned. With a sound like thunder, a hailstorm of bolts of energy sprayed from the buster. A fusillade of white-hot impacts hit the Red Hood and the ground around him as he desperately tried to regain his feet, perhaps to make some foolish last stand or put up one last bit of fight. But it was in vain, as the blistering onslaught of fire swiftly tore him apart, putting him back down and taking the last bits of fight out of him.

Without stopping, the soldier navi swept his buster around, readying another identical charge. A second volley of white-hot energy blasts tore apart the blank landscape of the void, leaving a smoking, charred arc as he swept the angle of fire across the remaining fighters, scoring warning hits on some, tearing others apart as far more solid hits were landed, and missing some entirely.

His buster smoking, Colonel slowly lowered his arm, letting it transition back to sword as the surge of power Gregar granted him finally overtaxed his systems. EMERGENCY VENTING flashed across his HUD, and a brilliant flare of violent exploded around him, great clouds of steam and sparks blasting out as the bestial fury bled away, reverting him to his base state. He was badly beaten and damaged, a fact made all the more apparent by the departure of the excess power preventing him from noticing. Sparks flickered weakly in the numerous tears and gashes in his armor, and his gait was unsteady as he turned about to trudge off as quickly as he could from the aftermath of this battle.

His peace was short-lived, however. The pounding of footsteps sounded behind him, rapidly approaching. "I'm...not done yet, toaster man!" He recognized the voice right away, in no small part thanks to the childish insult hurled at him. A weak clang followed shortly after, a blow landing on the back of his head and staggering him in his already off-balance state, and leaving something draped heavily across him. Presumably Joline. A moment later she started to slip, and plopped down to the ground to just lay there. He stopped, turning to look back at her. She stared up at him, defiantly, though it was clear, even with his less than perfect understanding of how humans and the like worked, she wasn't going to be staring at much of anything much longer.

With a grimace on his face, he shifted the sheathed Blade of Kusanagi to rest at his belt for now, until he could manage a better place to keep it, and reached down with his now free hand. A weak "Nonononono....." went up from Joline before she finally lost the struggle to remain conscious for good. With surprising dexterity and care, given both his current condition and normal lack of anything even approaching empathy or awareness of others, the soldier navi scooped the young woman up, supporting her as best he could with one arm as he turned to go back on his way, for one of the gates in the distance.