10-13-2015, 08:01 PM
Grunting in pain as he scrambled to his feet, Tartaros' eyes searched around the arena. Seemingly, his opponent was trying to bide his time. It mattered little, the swordsman would have to come out eventually...
Sliding his blade gently back into its scabbard and bringing his shotgun to bare, the Astartes prepared to resume the duel. Limping through the mud and kneeling behind one of the barricades, Tartaros caught a glimpse of the navy-blue streak darting across the arena. Steadying his hands and holding his breath, the marine prepared to fire.
As the exorcist charged towards him, Tartaros took the shot. Even as the young man ducked from left to right, the slug still grazed his cheek, leaving a long and bleeding gash on his face. The marine couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief while th-
"ARGH!"
As the crowd began to erupt into raucous laughter and cheering, Tartaros felt a searing, white-hot agony burn its way through his hand. Staring down at his right arm, he found a burning, blue blade thrust deep into his forearm, and a grinning Rin at its side. His arm still burning, the iron colossus did the first thing that came to mind. Letting out a raspy snarl of pain and anger, Tartaros gripped his shotgun tightly, ramming its stock into the head of the swordsman.
With the sickening crunch of splintering wood and steel crashing into bone, Rin was thrown to the arena floor. Mud staining his clothes and the crowds cheering around him, weakly tried to force himself back off of his knees. He had to end this as soon as he could...
As the exorcist struggled to his feet, Tartaros stood, fuming with distaste at being forced to fight such a young opponent. Nonetheless, the boy still seemed skilled beyond his years...
Taking a moment to wipe the blood and ash from his still partially-burned hand, the warrior spoke, his short-lived fit of agony and rage subsiding. "You're a fast one, boy. Poor technique though. Take more care next time, and you might just win this", he paused, ejecting the empty shell from his firearm, "That is, if you can get past me."
As for the half-demon laying before him, well, he was furious. Hot, thick blood pouring down his face as the crowds cheered for more... They would get their show, they would the best show of their damned lives! Violently sputtering a mix of half-congealed blood and dirt from his mouth, Rin leaped high into the air, showering his opponent in a burst of flame.
Bracing himself as the blazing inferno burned its way through his cloak, Tartaros spoke once more. "Good, good! Strike me again!"
Still absorbed with anger, the exorcist obliged, charging into the giant of steel and hide before him with blade in hand. Hacking deep into Tartaros' armour, biting into the side of his chest before he could so much as attempt to pull the trigger. The marine recoiled in surprise, and Rin followed up with a blow to the leg, knocking him to his knees.
Pointing his blade at Tartaros' throat, the half-demon paused. The crowd kept silent, awaiting his choice with bated breath. What wou-
"Hey, kid. You missed something."
With the click of a hammer, Rin was thrown across the arena, landing in the narrow fault near the center. Humming to himself, Tartaros cleared his shotgun's chamber, holstering it back along his belt. Clambering back onto his feet and limping towards the crack in the earth, the marine drew one of his axes.
Leaping into the fault, however, it appeared his foe was awfully injured. Injured, but almost certainly alive. Unsurprisingly, before he could even turn, the bloodied exorcist was upon him again. Slashing back and forth at a tremendous speed, the youth's blade only scratched and singed Tartaros before getting caught on his axe. Letting out a hoarse, cough-like laugh as Rin struggled against the grip of his weapon and still-bleeding arm, the warrior spoke again. "I really should have asked your name... It can be good to know who you are fighting, after all."
Sliding his blade gently back into its scabbard and bringing his shotgun to bare, the Astartes prepared to resume the duel. Limping through the mud and kneeling behind one of the barricades, Tartaros caught a glimpse of the navy-blue streak darting across the arena. Steadying his hands and holding his breath, the marine prepared to fire.
As the exorcist charged towards him, Tartaros took the shot. Even as the young man ducked from left to right, the slug still grazed his cheek, leaving a long and bleeding gash on his face. The marine couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief while th-
"ARGH!"
As the crowd began to erupt into raucous laughter and cheering, Tartaros felt a searing, white-hot agony burn its way through his hand. Staring down at his right arm, he found a burning, blue blade thrust deep into his forearm, and a grinning Rin at its side. His arm still burning, the iron colossus did the first thing that came to mind. Letting out a raspy snarl of pain and anger, Tartaros gripped his shotgun tightly, ramming its stock into the head of the swordsman.
With the sickening crunch of splintering wood and steel crashing into bone, Rin was thrown to the arena floor. Mud staining his clothes and the crowds cheering around him, weakly tried to force himself back off of his knees. He had to end this as soon as he could...
As the exorcist struggled to his feet, Tartaros stood, fuming with distaste at being forced to fight such a young opponent. Nonetheless, the boy still seemed skilled beyond his years...
Taking a moment to wipe the blood and ash from his still partially-burned hand, the warrior spoke, his short-lived fit of agony and rage subsiding. "You're a fast one, boy. Poor technique though. Take more care next time, and you might just win this", he paused, ejecting the empty shell from his firearm, "That is, if you can get past me."
As for the half-demon laying before him, well, he was furious. Hot, thick blood pouring down his face as the crowds cheered for more... They would get their show, they would the best show of their damned lives! Violently sputtering a mix of half-congealed blood and dirt from his mouth, Rin leaped high into the air, showering his opponent in a burst of flame.
Bracing himself as the blazing inferno burned its way through his cloak, Tartaros spoke once more. "Good, good! Strike me again!"
Still absorbed with anger, the exorcist obliged, charging into the giant of steel and hide before him with blade in hand. Hacking deep into Tartaros' armour, biting into the side of his chest before he could so much as attempt to pull the trigger. The marine recoiled in surprise, and Rin followed up with a blow to the leg, knocking him to his knees.
Pointing his blade at Tartaros' throat, the half-demon paused. The crowd kept silent, awaiting his choice with bated breath. What wou-
"Hey, kid. You missed something."
With the click of a hammer, Rin was thrown across the arena, landing in the narrow fault near the center. Humming to himself, Tartaros cleared his shotgun's chamber, holstering it back along his belt. Clambering back onto his feet and limping towards the crack in the earth, the marine drew one of his axes.
Leaping into the fault, however, it appeared his foe was awfully injured. Injured, but almost certainly alive. Unsurprisingly, before he could even turn, the bloodied exorcist was upon him again. Slashing back and forth at a tremendous speed, the youth's blade only scratched and singed Tartaros before getting caught on his axe. Letting out a hoarse, cough-like laugh as Rin struggled against the grip of his weapon and still-bleeding arm, the warrior spoke again. "I really should have asked your name... It can be good to know who you are fighting, after all."