07-06-2017, 05:43 AM
Takezo has seen a transformation like this. Jak had used it in Dante's Abyss to take on a much darker appearance, and to gain great power. The swordsman laughed at Cirrus. He laughed at Jak in retrospect. "You are silly." The nearly lighthearted words spoken by the swordsman shock Cirrus more than his gaze had.
Silly? I am a god compared to you! "Why?" If Cirrus had noticed anything, it was that this warrior had purpose to every action. He would not laugh at Cirrus just to demoralize him, though it was definitely possible that was part of it. The Ronin was nothing if not precise.
"You are not the first person to use a demonic transformation against me. I find it silly." Takezo bares his sword. Single handed, he smirked at the grisly looking prime before him. "You may look more frightening on the outside, but the fact remains. My demon is stronger than yours. It does not need... validation." With a flick of the katana, more of Cirrus' blood slips free from the blade to stain the ground.
A combination of rage and eager anticipation boiled in Cirrus. The swordsman stood so proud in the face of such power. The man's cold eyes seemed to glare right through the Vampire Fist. Cirrus expected Takezo to flinch, to cower at the nightmare that was the skeletal hands. This was not the case. If anything, the transformation seems to have bored him. His eyes were blood soaked daggers.
Takezo steps forward.
Stratus Neon steps back.
Within this form of Stratus Neon was abundant chi to draw from. Within Takezo was a limited pool. He was weak. The swordsman was weak, but he still had such presence. Suddenly it hit him. Stratus realized what was going on. That look in the ronin's eyes, that insane sharpness to the dark gaze... the demon swordsman was using a powered up state as well. From the blood, he knew what was coming.
"Woe to he ... who stands in the rain..." The phrase echoed in his head. The moment he verbalized it, Takezo smiles. The Vampire Fist user's insight into Takezo's blood showed him everything the swordsman could do. This situation was growing more and more unbalanced. Even as Stratus Neon, the gash to his chest slowed him down, and now Takezo was faster and more focused than before. The only difference is Cirrus could run faster.
Taking a few shallow, pained breaths, Stratus goes for it. He tries to outpace the swordsman, dashing in at superspeed, trying to ignore the pain of his chest. The massive hands reach out, seeking blood, but even as they do, Takezo steps in. He moves into the attack, in a blur of speed to match the Vampire's own, and sank his sword into the gut of the Fist user. The long digits curl around to impale Takezo's back, but their impact had slowed after the swordsman's nearly disemboweling strike.
"Your demon is weak." Even as blood trickled down his back, Takezo found the strength to inform his foe about his downfalls. "My demon is HUNGRY!" The tables turned. The Fist of the Vampire user was the victim of a vicious bite. Takezo may not suck blood, but the teeth embedding themselves in Neon's neck tear a chunk of flesh free.
The claws yank from his back, and with a strong shoulder, Takezo shoves the Fist of the Vampire user off of his sword. He unleashed a few quick cuts at high speeds while Neon was in shock.
That was all this was: shock. As Takezo stepped back to regain his breath and spit blood from his mouth, the Saru would realize what had happened. This was just a mind game... a bluff. The swordsman was gravely wounded, but he was clearly ready to go down swinging. "I see through your games! You are about to die just standing there!"
"You're right. I just stepped from one grave into another." There was a rasp to his voice. Had one of his lungs suffered from the Saru's claws? "I don't mind. If you put me down, it just means I will have to hunt you until I repay the debt. With interest, of course." His words were no bluff. If the Vampire killed him here, it would be signing his own death warrant. Not to mention, the swordsman's addition of interest did not sound pleasant in the least. "Are you ready to die?"
Silly? I am a god compared to you! "Why?" If Cirrus had noticed anything, it was that this warrior had purpose to every action. He would not laugh at Cirrus just to demoralize him, though it was definitely possible that was part of it. The Ronin was nothing if not precise.
"You are not the first person to use a demonic transformation against me. I find it silly." Takezo bares his sword. Single handed, he smirked at the grisly looking prime before him. "You may look more frightening on the outside, but the fact remains. My demon is stronger than yours. It does not need... validation." With a flick of the katana, more of Cirrus' blood slips free from the blade to stain the ground.
A combination of rage and eager anticipation boiled in Cirrus. The swordsman stood so proud in the face of such power. The man's cold eyes seemed to glare right through the Vampire Fist. Cirrus expected Takezo to flinch, to cower at the nightmare that was the skeletal hands. This was not the case. If anything, the transformation seems to have bored him. His eyes were blood soaked daggers.
Takezo steps forward.
Stratus Neon steps back.
Within this form of Stratus Neon was abundant chi to draw from. Within Takezo was a limited pool. He was weak. The swordsman was weak, but he still had such presence. Suddenly it hit him. Stratus realized what was going on. That look in the ronin's eyes, that insane sharpness to the dark gaze... the demon swordsman was using a powered up state as well. From the blood, he knew what was coming.
"Woe to he ... who stands in the rain..." The phrase echoed in his head. The moment he verbalized it, Takezo smiles. The Vampire Fist user's insight into Takezo's blood showed him everything the swordsman could do. This situation was growing more and more unbalanced. Even as Stratus Neon, the gash to his chest slowed him down, and now Takezo was faster and more focused than before. The only difference is Cirrus could run faster.
Taking a few shallow, pained breaths, Stratus goes for it. He tries to outpace the swordsman, dashing in at superspeed, trying to ignore the pain of his chest. The massive hands reach out, seeking blood, but even as they do, Takezo steps in. He moves into the attack, in a blur of speed to match the Vampire's own, and sank his sword into the gut of the Fist user. The long digits curl around to impale Takezo's back, but their impact had slowed after the swordsman's nearly disemboweling strike.
"Your demon is weak." Even as blood trickled down his back, Takezo found the strength to inform his foe about his downfalls. "My demon is HUNGRY!" The tables turned. The Fist of the Vampire user was the victim of a vicious bite. Takezo may not suck blood, but the teeth embedding themselves in Neon's neck tear a chunk of flesh free.
The claws yank from his back, and with a strong shoulder, Takezo shoves the Fist of the Vampire user off of his sword. He unleashed a few quick cuts at high speeds while Neon was in shock.
That was all this was: shock. As Takezo stepped back to regain his breath and spit blood from his mouth, the Saru would realize what had happened. This was just a mind game... a bluff. The swordsman was gravely wounded, but he was clearly ready to go down swinging. "I see through your games! You are about to die just standing there!"
"You're right. I just stepped from one grave into another." There was a rasp to his voice. Had one of his lungs suffered from the Saru's claws? "I don't mind. If you put me down, it just means I will have to hunt you until I repay the debt. With interest, of course." His words were no bluff. If the Vampire killed him here, it would be signing his own death warrant. Not to mention, the swordsman's addition of interest did not sound pleasant in the least. "Are you ready to die?"