The Dark Ages [Dark Data]

[Nebula]

Begrudgingly, the ironclad mercenary followed her peers out of the clearing, leaving the wreckage of their battle behind them. It was evident that she was not keen on working with this particular group, though she knew that if the dark power overcame the group she’d need to be there to control the situation. Samus couldn’t risk leaving the hacker alone with a chunk of Nebula’s influence.

“We’d better step it up,” Hiro noted, striding to the head of the group. “Nebula’s probably sending these goons after us to slow our pace. That gate has to be around here somewhe-”

Samus had watched it happen in slow-motion. From high overhead, something had dropped abruptly onto Hiro’s head, the substance splattering against his bushy hair and beginning to dribble down the back of his jacket. As he let out a cry of surprise and began investigating the event, the bounty hunter caught sight of what was, at least ostensibly, some variety of bird fleeing from the area. It dipped and bobbed in the air as if drunk, letting out a wretched caw as if it were gargling muck. Nebula’s corruption seemed to have influenced even the wildlife.

“SHIT!” the hacker ronin cried out, casting his overcoat off and batting at his hair. Tiny wisps of dark smoke rose from the mess, causing Madotsuki to cover her nose and recoil from the stench.

”Yes, it does...seem to be.” Okor returned, single afflicted eye gazing down at him unblinkingly.

“Some fucking bird just shit on my head!” Hiro elaborated, incredulously. “Ugh, this shit burns!” The hacker grabbed at the thick blob of excrement, hurriedly flinging it to the dirt with a groan. He scowled at Samus as he retrieved his jacket; he didn’t need to use his goggles to know she was smirking underneath that helmet.

“The trees seem to be getting more and more sparse,” Shinnah announced, now several meters away from the rest of the group. “Sorta seems like we’re in another clearing now. It looks like there’s something up ahead…”

Just as she finished her sentence, Madotsuki leapt forward, blade in hand. She crossed in front of her companion, raising her knife in time to parry an incoming projectile. The ebony arrow ricocheted with a clink, followed soon after by a hail of similar darts. Gnome and Baku stumbled backward, reflecting the incoming attacks before they could find their mark.

“So,” a powerful, commanding voice boomed from up ahead. “You’ve found my arena. If you want to proceed further, you’ll have to defeat me.”

Standing nearly ten meters from them stood what could only be described as a being simultaneously equal parts man, robot, and horse. The robotic centaur boasted emerald armor from pauldron to hoof, separated here or there by the odd panel of yellow or blue. A trio of foot long, formidable horns curving up from the sides and front of his helmet in a triangular pattern, accentuating his beastly nature. His right hand appeared to be missing, instead replaced by what Samus immediately recognized was an arm cannon. Some distance behind the cybernetic beast of myth stood a shimmering violet portal, emitting an eerie glow. From high above the group could hear movement among the branches; whatever was scrambling above no doubt the source of the arrow volley.

“My archers won’t interrupt our battle without my say-so,” Centaur Man assured them coolly. Without another word, he raised his arm cannon, motes of light beginning to coalesce at the end of the barrel.

The battle had begun.

The final guardian before the nebula gate has appeared. Centaur Man's stats and abilities are as follows: [spoiler]

CAMELOT DARKLING COMMANDER

CENTAUR MAN

Proficiencies: Physical Strength, Ranged Proficiency, Area Attack Proficiency
Powers: Burst Movement, Hive Mind, Enhanced Senses (Basic), Stealth, Suppression, Time Manipulation, Survival
Moves: Centaur Arrow, Energy Shot, Firing Zone, Centaur Charge, Plasma Blade, Stamp, Gore, Centaur Gale
Super Moves: Centaur Flash (T1 Utility), Dark Flash (T1 Defensive), Plasma Arrow (T1 Offensive)
Transformations: Dark Surge (T1 Power up)
Unlocks: Two stat increases
Base stats
ATK: 3
DEF: 2
SPD: 3
TEC: 4

-- Centaur Arrow: Forming a bow of energy on his left arm, Centaur Man draws back and unleashes an arrow, roughly four feet long. It is exceedingly quick and accurate, taking only a second to form the bow and fire, though not particularly powerful. It has an effective range of about 40 meters.
-- Energy Shot: Centaur Man fires a shot from the buster on his right arm, the shot taking the form of a glowing white orb about three inches in diameter, which explodes mildly on impact. It has a range of about 20 meters, and can fire at a rate of about three shots per two seconds, though individual shots are not particularly powerful.
-- Firing Zone: Centaur Man unleashes a storm of fire from his buster, spraying out several dozen shots (approximately 60 of them) over a wide area in front of him over only two seconds. Each individual shot is just as powerful as his regular shots, but the rapid energy burst overheats his buster and must cool down for at least ten seconds afterward before even a regular shot can be fired again.
-- Centaur Charge: Centaur Man wreaths himself in a field of the same energy as his arrows, and charges forward in a straight line for approximately twenty feet, aiming to bash through or smash aside any targets in his way, inflicting only mild damage but throwing them violently out of his way.
-- Plasma Blade: Centaur Man forms a long, glaive-like weapon of energy in his left hand, taking roughly two seconds. It is extremely sturdy, and packs a significant punch, with a reach of nearly three meters at its longest point. It is otherwise an unremarkable weapon.
-- Stamp: Centaur Man rears up on his hind legs and strikes out with his hooves, smashing down with a fearsome kick that can actually crack the ground under him. It’s a straightforward, but powerful attack.
-- Gore: Centaur Man tries to simply gore his target with the horns on his head, either at a standstill or as part of a charge. They are extremely sharp, and are well-suited to the stabbing motion.
-- Centaur Gale: Centaur Man employs a weakened version of his Centaur Flash, taking only half a second to charge. The immediate area around him -- for roughly ten meters -- is blanketed in sparkling, shimmering lights, and targets within that area find their perception of time dramatically altered. To them, it seems as if Centaur Man is suddenly moving much, much faster -- well over twice as fast -- or they are moving much, much slower. This area of effect moves with him, and lasts for roughly five seconds at a time, requiring fifteen seconds before it can be used again.

(Super Move descriptions, and power up stats are intentionally left out. They will be a surprise.)[/spoiler]

The battle begins now! This will be a three-round fight. You have 72 hours and one post of up to 800 words each. Nebula will post again at the end of the round to tally up damage and begin the next round.

Ready? FIGHT!