[Round 2] Skeletor & Kuzuru vs Broly & Amber

[Karl Jak]

Skeletor scowled. Something smelled unpleasant.

“Foul creature,” he groaned as he looked down at the horse. Behind him and his companion, a small armory sat, filled with equipment for stabbing and hacking one’s opposition. “Why are we trapped on these beasts of burden?” He growled as he shifted atop the horse.

“Entertainment?” Kuzuru smirked as he looked across the rolling fields at the other structure.

Before that building, the pair of Broly and Amber found themselves having a similar conversation.

“Weapons are nice,” Broly muttered as he picked the lance from the side of his horses. He jabbed the weapon at the ground and nodded his head.

Word Limit: 850
Posts: 2
Time Limit: 48 hours
Random Elements: On
Damage Meter: Off

Time limit starts at 5 pm CDT on June 25, 2018

“Medieval Times” – The Fight Area is a 1 square mile field ripped straight from Camelot (not literally, of course… we don’t have that technology, do we?). The field has some gentle rolling hills dotted with shrubberies and a few small trees. All contestants are perma-mounted on indestructible horses (before anyone asks—your SPD is transferred to your horse). Horses are equipped with lances, and there is equipment stashed on opposing sides of the Fight Area. All Horses have DEF 23042302.

Fight with honor! En garde!

Stipulation: Perma-mounts. Extra weapons available.

[Skeletor]

Impossible! There, across the battlefield, it couldn’t be! Blonde hair, and a set of bare muscles that none could compete with … Skeletor gripped his havoc staff tighter, trying in vain to quell his trembling hands. Skeletor had escaped. HE could not be here!

“Hey bonehead, you freaking out?” Kuzuru shouted, wheeling his steed to face their charging foes, “I’m not gonna hold your hand, so suck it up and fight!” With that Kuzuru spurred his horse and galloped off. Skeletor ground his teeth, breathing deeply. Wait, if He-man was truly stuck in the Omniverse as well, then presumably he too had been weakened. In fact, this might be just the chance that Skeletor needed to defeat He-man once and for all! Sudden conviction swept over Skeletor, urging him forward to battle.

“Onwards to victory!” Skeletor shouted, staff raised. His zeal was undercut by the black stallion’s complete lack of response to Skeletor’s commands. “Listen here, you belligerent battle steed!” Skeletor railed, yanking on the reins. The stallion reared resentfully, fighting the warlock’s control. “You will obey me or you’re going to be glue at the end of this battle, understand?” Skeletor shouted. The black stallion tore the reigns away from his hands, racing forward, but veering off to one side.

“Confounded creature! Panthor was never this unruly!” Skeletor prattled, but a shout and rapidly approaching hooves drew his attention. Amber galloped towards him, standing balanced atop her white steed with the supernatural agility of a born huntress. Skeletor wheeled his stallion to bear and raised his Havoc Staff in defense as her massive Zwei-hander crashed into him. Skeletor was nearly swept from his saddle by the force of the blow. The faunus thundered past as Skeletor scrambled to right himself in his seat. The warlock shook his fist and managed to berate his mount into pursuit.

“Get back here, you litter-scratching leech!” Skeletor shouted. The Havoc staff began to hum, dark power conducted and honed to purpose. A beam of white light shot past Amber, tracing a line on the ground. A wall of flames sprung into being before her, causing her horse to rear in surprise. The Huntress managed to stay balanced, but as she wheeled around Skeletor bore down on his foe. A lance of purple metal, couched beneath Skeletor’s arm smashed into her shoulder, throwing pink sparks as it clashed against her aura.  

“Are we afraid of a little fire, my pretty?” Skeletor shouted as he galloped past, the flames parting for their cackling master. He attempted to circle around for another pass, but the stubborn black courser tugged at the bit, fighting his control. Skeletor yanked hard upon the reins, demanding his mount obey. Amber’s massive ally was now approaching and with closeness Skeletor realized that warrior was not He-man. The gall! They dared to mock him with a pretender? Pinpricks of fury glistened in his skull, and he spurred his own mount into action.

Broly’s seven-foot form thundered towards him on an equally massive steed; lance already couched with the proficiency of a warrior race.  The primes clashed and Skeletor’s staff was knocked clear from his grasp, tumbling to the grassy field. Without Syntech’s support, Skeletor would have been flung clear from his saddle as the Legendary Saiyan scored a direct hit with his incredible reach. The warlock reeled, trying to orient himself as he neared one of the equipment sheds. He reached out with his magic, opting for a large double-headed axe in place of another lance. The axe flew end over end into his grasp, as he turned to face Broly’s next charge.

“Alright, you muscle-bound moron, let’s see if we can chop you down to a more reasonable size!” Skeletor shouted and jabbed his heels into the stallion’s sides. The Saiyan had reach decidedly, and Broly’s smirk told all as they closed. Skeletor pushed a hand forward as they neared, the Warlock’s magic turning aside Broly’s thrust. Skeletor found ample space to sink the cleaver into his foe’s massive thigh as he passed, releasing a satisfying grunt of pain from the Saiyan.

“Let me axe you a question, Goldilocks,” Skeletor shouted, leaving the weapon stuck in his opponent as they parted, “With hair like that how will you-” Shots rang out from Razorback as Skeletor jerked around mid-taunt . He deflected some of the missiles, wincing as multiple bullets found their mark. Kuzuru swept in on Amber while she was distracted, a hail of needles peppered her aura as the huntress turned with a shout.

Wrenching the blade free, Broly hurled it towards him with force, the Saiyan’s blood still glistening on its edge. Eye sockets wide, Skeletor ducked as best he could, but the blade gashed his arm and sailed past, thudding into a wooden post. Skeletor cackled and drew his twinsword, a flash splitting the weapon into two blades. A cloud passed over the sun. The hooded figure sat astride a night black warhorse, two blades ready at his sides, an ever-present grin upon his face.

“Let us dance princeling. We shall see which warrior is truly the master here!”

850 words exactly. On to you Joebro!

[Broly]

The axe had left a sizable slice in his right leg. Spurring the horse forward with his heels the Saiyan pulled on the reins and turned to face the warrior before him with a skull in place of a normal head. Broly could feel fresh blood running down his leg and into his boot. Raising the lance, the blonde Sayian pointed it at his foe and kicked his horse into a full gallop. Skeletor was unsure of Broly’s plan, but he matched him just the same.

“How did you know my weakness was axe wounds? Guess I have to give up now!” The Super Saiyan laughed, planting the tip of his lance firmly into the ground as the two warriors closed in on each other.

At full speed Broly vaulted free from his horse and planted both feet to Skeletor’s chest knocking him clean off. As both equine animals kept running, their riders fell into the dew-covered grass and tumbled to a stop. As the Saiyan rose to his feet, drawing the sword that had been placed on his belt he crossed the blade across his torso as the walking Skullman came down with both his swords. Without warning, just as Broly was about to break the clinch both contestants were pulled towards their mounts.

“The fuck!?” They said, more or less in unison, as some unseen force dragged them away from each other.

As the Saiyan was dragged he deflected an oncoming charge from Kuzuru the best he could but felt the swordsman slice into his shoulder. Both Skeletor and Broly were remounted, their horses continuing to run amuck as if some magical force had rewound them back to their saddles.

“Well that was odd.” The near six-decade old Saiyan said as he pulled back on his horses’ reigns.

Turning the beast he spurred the animal and moved to rejoin the fight.

310 words according to MSWORD

[Kuzuru]

Ah mounted combat. Kuzuru grinned as he watched his companion tumble through the air and back to his steed. Dante’s Abyss had certainly delivered this year. It isn’t everyday that you can clobber someone stupid while magnetically mounted atop a beast of war. He clicked at his steed and pulled at its reins. The beast obeyed and came to a stop. Kuzuru ran a hand across its neck, feeling a soft sheen of sweat beneath the horse’s milky hair. A smattering of Broly’s blood, like strawberries in vanilla ice cream, stained its flank. Kuzuru surveyed the battlefield and, content with the fact that Skeletor was busy being double-teamed, leaned down to rest his cheek on the beast’s mane. For a moment Kuzuru listened to the horse’s breath which was underpinned by distant explosions and shouts of “Nyeeeehahaha!”

“What’s your name bud?” Kuzuru asked the horse in a tone barely above a whisper.

No response.

“You probably don’t have one huh?”

The horse snorted and shuddered.

Kuzuru sighed and kept talking, “that’s okay, but I’ve no use for a nameless steed, so let’s call you Bucephalus, you don’t look much like him but, hopefully you’ve got his spirit.”

“What are you doing you daydreaming devil!?” Skeletor’s voice cut through the air and sent a chill up the demon’s spine, “I need your help out here!”

Kuzuru scowled and sat up straight. With a click he snapped the reins. Bucephalus reared back and whinnied. Clods of dirt were launched into the air as the horse tore forth.

Thundering past Skeletor, Kuzuru stuck his tongue out and said, “thanks for ruining our moment fuckface.”

With a grin the demon turned forward and came face-to-face with Broly’s forearm. It was like hitting a tree, solid and implacable. Kuzuru’s world flashed white as his head was bent backwards underneath the saiyan’s arm. A lesser man would’ve been thrown from his horse, but Kuzuru was no man. The demon’s vision came back in violent splotches of dark green and purple. As Bucephalus carried its dazed rider further off into the sunset Amber and Broly descended back onto Skeletor. A copper taste plagued Kuzuru’s mouth and the distinct pressure of a concussion filled his sinuses.

“Fuck me running,” he groaned and tugged at the reins, “not a great start, huh Bucey?”

As the demon barreled towards the smaller of his two adversaries he held out his hand. A thin slit appeared across his palm and a weighted cylinder attached to a length of chain began to spool out. Once the chain was long enough to start dragging across the ground Kuzuru closed his hand around it. With a practiced motion he began to spin the length of metal over his head. A sound, not unlike that of a helicopter, gave Amber a few moments to react. Unfortunately a few moments was not long enough as Kuzuru flicked his arm forward. The chain’s perfect circle was destroyed as it surged forward. Amber raised her sword in defense, but the demon’s weapon merely wrapped around the blade. Momentum carried the weight several times around her sword and eventually it wound down around her wrist. Kuzuru held tight and prodded Bucephalus with his heels. The horse blazed past Amber and she yelped as the chain yanked her arm forward. The sudden shift in weight spurred her horse into action and it followed the demon’s path.

“Come on girlie,” Kuzuru shouted, “let’s leave these two lovebirds to themselves.”

Kuzuru crinkled his nose and inhaled deeply. The girl’s scent was familiar. Even though it was buried beneath her flesh his nose still attuned to her blood. It carried that distinct mix of cat and human that he had yet to encounter anywhere else. A light bulb went off in his head and he called for his steed to halt. Given reprieve Amber clawed at the chain entangled around her wrist.

Kuzuru snapped his fingers and pointed at her, “You’re that chica that lives in the winter wonderland yeah? You seemed like a nice girl, what are you doing in a bloodsport like this?”

“Glory in battle, obviously,” she answered as she ripped away the demon’s chain, “nice doesn’t always mean innocent.”

Kuzuru smiled and answered, “glory? Well now that’s something I can get behind. Alright darling, you’ve got your best shot at glory standing right before you. Can you beat me? Can you beat the leader of the Ashen Blades? You better throw everything you’ve got at me, ‘cause if you don’t, well, let’s just hope you’ve got more than nine lives cat-lady.”

[Amber Veritz]

Amber had been marveled by the magical bean the Syntech employees gave her. As soon as she put it in her mouth her wounds vanished, as if they’d never been there. If she didn’t pay attention, though, she would quickly get injured again. Kuzuru’s chain left an unruly red mark around her wrist, like wearing a hair tie around it for too long. The faunus rubbed her injury as the two spoke, trying to sooth the slight pain in her hand.

“Leader of the Ashen Blades, huh? Sounds like you’re taking the Patron of Atlas a little lightly, don’t you think?” she mentioned with a slight grin. “I’m no pushover, assassins don’t scare me.”

Truthfully, the faunus knew Kuzuru was dangerous. He had led an expedition in the Frozen Fields to kill a psycho-maniac. Ballad, who was starting a criminal organization there to literally obliterate everything in it. He and his group of assassins, mercenaries or whatever, were a force to be reckoned with.

“Then we’ll see just who’s the better leader!” Kuzuru called out as he launched his chain back at the faunus. The faunus planted her feet onto the back of the snow-white steed, riding the equestrian animal as a snowboard.

“Alright Blizzard, let’s show this fool how much he underestimates my valor.” The horse gave verbal feedback with a whinny and picked up it’s speed, closing in on her adversary. The faunus grasped the long medieval lance, provided by Karl Jak when she was teleported onto the animal. A lance was well out of her comfort zone, but fuck it, she’ll make it work.

The two thundered towards each other. A haze of dust clouded the arena, covering the air in a slight brown mist. Dirt nestled itself into the girl’s nose, clouding her strong senses. But her focus remained on Kuzuru. He was preparing another attack, swinging his chain overhead, ready it to be thrown at any moment. Just as they got close, Kuzuru started to inhale. As he puffed up like a bullfrog, Amber instinctively took defensive countermeasures. She dripped down the side of her horse, who in turn let out a pained sound as needles dug deep into it’s skin. Even so, it did not bleed or stop. Amber held on to the saddle and ran beside Blizzard, barely being able to keep from tripping. Her hand nailed into the cracked leather that anchored her by at least ten different needles. She winced painfully. That was her good hand. She wouldn’t be able to swing as well with her right hand, but that wouldn’t hold her back.

“Sorry Blizzard, but you’re solid portable cover.” The huntress complimented as she lugged herself back onto Blizzard. The equestrian beast retorted with an annoyed huff of air, but obliged and reared back around, speeding towards her enemy whose back was turned. Amber took the lance in her right hand and made an arch wide swing. Unlike a sword, it wasn’t sharp. Had it been tempered as such, she would have chopped the Blade’s leader clean in half. The lance collided with his midsection, almost knocking him off Bucephalus. His tight grip on the reins were the only thing keeping him from eating dust.

Amber jerked the reins to the side, having Blizzard make a wide turn away from the swordsman. Her hands reached for Razorback. The familiar gears hummed loudly as the mechanism clicked into position satisfyingly. Bullets tore through the air past Kuzuru, some hitting home.

Her focus averted, she wasn’t able to react when she heard the most annoying cackle ever.

“NYEHEHEHE.” It cried from behind her. “You would do well to remember there is more than one enemy on this battlefield, fool friend of fake He-man!”

Skeletor tore past the faunus and rammed her with his horse, nearly throwing her off of Blizzard’s back. The catgirl’s expression grew angry as she re-positioned herself.

“Blizzard! Catch up with bone-brain!” She called out and her white stallion charged towards the new target.

“Who are you calling ‘Bone-brain’ you dunderheaded dimwit!” Skeletor shook his fist angrily at the faunus. “Nobody insults me, The Great Skeletor!”

“I just did, stupid.” There was a moment of silence, besides the sound of tromping horses as Skeletor and Amber stared each other down.

“I will cover my throne in your skin for such insolence!” The skeleton-man screamed rearing back around to deliver his vengeance.

Amber unhooked her holster for Razorback and hooked it to the saddle of Blizzard, readying her claws. As the two came closer, Amber launched herself off her horse, knowing that she would likely be returned to it, and slashed at Skeletor with her pink razor-claws. He punched the faunus back, directly in the chest, launching her off the Overlord of Evil’s steed. The moment she hit the ground, she was forcefully floated back to her horse. As a result from the punch, excruciating pain swelled within her chest.. She didn’t expect him to be so physically powerful. Her attention returned to Kuzuru, she needed to focus on him - Broly had Skeletor handled.

847/850 words according to Docs. Back to Skeletor with the weather. NYEHEHE.

[Skeletor]

Skeletor clung to his horse’s neck as he fled the saiyan’s onslaught. The weaponless Eternian seethed as he struggled to escape. Broly charged after him, lance held at rest, laughing the entire way.

“Where do you think you’re going, scoundrel?” Broly shouted, catching hold of Skeletor by the scruff of his hood.  With the insane strength of a Saiyan, Broly flung Skeletor off his horse. Skeletor skipped across the field like an irate stone, then rolled to a stop, reflexively willing his Havoc staff to his grasp.

“You will regret that pride when I- Wha?” Skeletor’s retort caught in his mouth as the Abyss yanked him back towards his horse. The warlock tumbled helplessly through the air, back towards his waiting foe. Broly smirked and thrust his lance forward into Skeletor’s stomach, impaling the hapless Warlock like a pig midflight.

“I don’t think I’ll be the one with regrets, ghast.” Broly smirked, as Skeletor squirmed painfully on the wooden pole, Dantephysics allowing the moment to sink in for maximum viewer ratings. With a growl Skeletor thrust his havoc staff forward, the ram’s skull smacking into Broly’ face with a satisfying crunch.Skeletor unleashed a blast of magic point blank for good measure and the saiyan screamed in rage. Broly dropped the lance, allowing Skeletor to finish his trip back to his saddle.  

Skeletor splintered the lance, leaving a section still wedged in his abdomen, trying to steady his dangerously shallow breathing. His stupid horse had stopped at one of the sheds again. Skeletor almost berated the beast, but the assortment of weaponry caught his attention.

“How good are you in a kitchen, faker?” Skeletor asked, his power reaching out to a nearby weapons rack. Broly looked at him, confusion evident on the warrior prince’s face.

“I do not perform such base craftwork,” The Saiyan answered, starting towards Skeletor’s position. Skeletor cast his arms out wide, tattered cloak billowing as his magic arrayed several of the weapons into the air behind him, spinning with deadly momentum.

“Then let’s see how you handle a blender! Nyeheeeheehehee!” Skeletor cackled, then swept his arms forward.  Broly pulled his warhorse to a rearing halt as the onslaught of spinning weapons flew towards him. The Saiyan’s reflexes managed to snatch a halberd from the storm, but even with the horse to shield him several weapons sliced and battered his flesh.

“How did you like that, you boob!” Skeletor cackled, “because it’s time for a second helping!” The warlock raised his staff above his head with both hands, gathering power to unleash a volley of magic at the recovering Saiyan. His channeling was interrupted by a trio of rifle shots from Amber’s weapon.

“You meddlesome brat!” Skeletor seethed, his concentration ruined as he whirled on the huntress. Amber still stood atop her horse, Razorback transforming back into a zwei-hander as she drew near. The Huntress shifted her position atop of her steed and as she neared leapt clear from the horse, into the air above Skeletor. The startled warlock raised his havoc staff, as she brought the Zwei-hander down in an overhead strike. The weapons clashed with a power that the injured Skeletor could barely match. Her momentum halted, Amber and Skeletor locked glares.

“You cannot hope to match my power!” the warlock spat, rage overcoming pain as he held his defense against her strike.

“Yeah? Look behind you.” The huntress quipped, then the rubber banding effect pulled her away towards her horse. Skeletor whirled as Broly came thundering in, halberd poised. Before the Saiyan could strike however, a chain snaked out and snapped around his throat, choking the warrior, and foiling his surprise attack.

“Bucephalus says your horse sucks!” Kuzuru shouted jovially as he sped past. Skeletor couldn’t tell who he meant the jab at. The war demon raced away, his victim forced into pursuit.  Barely glancing at Skeletor, Amber turned to help her ally. Skeletor lowered his havoc staff, his horse nickering as it hoofed the ground impatiently.

Skeletor muscled his stallion back towards the battle, a fire steadily building in his empty eyes. Indignity mounted upon indignity, from ally and enemy alike. Karl Jak placed them upon these worthless steeds for the paltry amusement of the masses, his foes dared pretend at their betters, and his ally seemed more smitten with his steed than concerned with their conquest!

“Enough!” Skeletor hissed. Eldritch energies surged around him as he neared the conflict, goading his anger, “You have mocked me for long enough! I will no longer tolerate your idiotic japes! You face me, Skeletor, Overlord of Evil, and you shall know the terror that entails!” An emerald stone bearing the effigy of a horned ram manifested into being in front of him, held inches from his grasp by dark forces. Reckless with fury, Skeletor honed its power on the nearest target, the huntress Amber.

Neon green energy condensed around Skeletor as he spoke the incantation, resolving into the likeness of a demonic goat. With a crackling roar the goat sprung forward, a flashing beam of emerald power to smite the object of his rage.

849 words according to google docs.
Skeletor is using his T1 super attack (the ramstone) on Amber, 4/5 SP remaining.
You're up Brolhemoth!

[Kuzuru]

A flash of green light lit up the battlefield like a massive beacon. Skeletor’s magic barreled towards the young girl, underpinned by the lich’s wicked cackling. Kuzuru had come to a complete stop. His mouth was left slightly opened and his lips curled into a subtle smile. He began to clap. The demon shouted and cheered and hollered as his companion took center stage.

“Your doing it Peter,” he shouted and patted his horse’s neck, “you see that Bucey? Our boy is really doing it!”

“Nyahahahaha, kneel before the incredible might of Skeletor!”

Amber’s horse had come to a stop. The huntress’s entire world was swallowed by a roiling mass of emerald energy. There was no escape from this storm, and so she could do nothing but weather it. As the ramstone’s awesome power collided with her she squeezed her eyes tight. Heat and fury washed over her. A flash of pink light cut through the sea of green. Kuzuru’s clapping slowed to a stop as Skeletor’s attack shuddered and gave way to a blinding flash of pink. Where there was once a tempest of destruction all that remained was a completely unharmed girl. A warm rosy aura thrummed softly around Amber as she chuckled.

“Is that all you’ve got?!” She shouted, “you didn’t even scratch me!”

If Skeletor’s jaw could’ve dropped it would’ve. His body trembled with an equal mix of rage and terror. Kuzuru patted him on the back as he thundered past.

“Well, it was a pretty lightshow,” the demon teased, “but why don’t you go play in the dirt with the knuckle-dragger, I’ll take care of Sailor Moon.”

As Kuzuru charged forward Amber spurred her horse into action. The beast whinnied and galloped away from their pursuers. The demon growled and pointed both of his arms at his quarry. Strands of wire crawled underneath his skin like hundreds of snakes. His flesh writhed as coil after coil of barbed wire wriggled beneath his epidermis. Metal barbs clawed against the inside of his flesh. Without warning these coils of barbed wire ripped themselves free and rushed towards Amber. A wall of spike-covered cables sprung up around her, forcing her horse to skid to a stop. She yanked on Blizzard’s reins and tried to race the rapidly materializing wall of wires. Despite her best efforts she was quickly outpaced. Wire wrapped around trees and scrubbed away bushes, washing away whole swathes of soft green grass. Within moments a large circle of the battlefield was cordoned off for Kuzuru’s enjoyment. Beads of sweat trickled down his brow as the last bit of wire existed his body. They were trapped within a writing cylinder of barbed wire. The demon grinned.

“Look around girlie,” he said, “you’re trapped.”

“All that effort just for me?” Amber answered as she came to a stop, “I’m flattered.”

Kuzuru’s smile faded. His arm fell limp and a slit appeared in his forearm. A metal edge worked itself free and glinted in the sunlight. Weighed down by an ungodly large cleaver his shoulder threatened to slip out of its socket.

“Sun Tzu recommends leaving a means egress for your enemy when you surround them,” Kuzuru spoke, “do you know why that is?”

“Who the hell is Sun Tzu?” Amber shot back.

“An enemy with no means of escape will fight ferociously and to their last breath if you leave an exit they will gladly choose that instead, but tell me, do you see an exit here?”

Amber didn’t answer and instead raised her rifle. He chuckled.

“That was a deliberate choice cat-ears,” Kuzuru said, “I want you to fight like you’ve never fought before, show me what happens when I cage an animal!”

Activated "Barbed Trap" and captured Amber for a round. Also activating Strength of the Damned for the remainder of the fight.

Kuzuru's new statline
ATK 6
DEF 1
SPD 4
TEC 5

2/6 SP remaining

[Amber Veritz]

Amber’s fist curled up in fury. As the wires raised around her horse, she quickly attempted to escape the prison-style fence. She watched Broly ready himself to Skeletor’s charge before the metal obscured her view too much to see through them. The panther-girl growled heavily under her breath.

“You’ve made the biggest mistake of your life.” Her tone shifted angrily to something much more serious than before she was caged. The faunus’s eyes glowed furiously in rage.

“What makes you say that, cat-girl?” Kuzuru grinned as he could feel her power rising as well as his own. He watched as she grabbed Razorback off of Blizzard’s side.

“I am not an animal! I’m a faunus! MY LIFE MATTERS TOO!” A vicious growl tore through the air as the pink aura flooded around the Remnant-native’s body and her eyes burned with a heavy crimson hue. She screamed with fury, “PREPARE TO DIE!”

The white stallion brushed through the makeshift battlefield as quickly as possible. Kuzuru’s grin widened - She was strong indeed, maybe even stronger. Something as stupid as that didn’t matter, though. Bucephalus whinnied as the reins snapped behind his ears and took off towards the girl riding her horse like a skateboard. Sword pointed towards the sky, Kuzuru couldn’t help but smirk. Her attacks were too predictable, and left her defences covered in openings. The horses were just about to flash past one another at amazing speeds, before Amber halted Blizzard to a sudden stop.

“Gotcha!” She called out as she pulled a black orb out of her pouch, forcefully smashing it on the ground underneath Bucephalus. A black dome of energy surrounded him. The only thing he could do was attempt to dodge attacks that were almost too fast to see. Her sword sprayed blood everywhere from the man’s body. It felt almost as if the crimson lifeblood was suspended in the air to him. Soon, the energy field disappeared, allowing Kuzuru to finally escape the heavy barrage of swings. Each cut was deep, and they were all over his body. It was there, he knew that if he didn’t take her out soon, this fight would end out of his favor.

“You can still move after that?!” The ferocity was still locked in Amber’s glare. “Fine! Suffer in pain for mocking me! I’ll kill you!”

Kuzuru readied his demon blade. He had let his guard down for a moment and it could have been deadly. Thankfully it wasn’t and he wouldn’t be fooled by her tricks again. She didn’t seem like the type that would use such a trick like slowing down the flow of time.

Blizzard charged towards the demon and his steed, tearing divots into the earth with each thundering stomp of it’s hooves. The pure rage that echoed off of her aura was so strong that someone could feel it. Their swords (If that was what you could call the blades that spurted out of Kuzuru’s skin) clashed and the equestrian quadrupeds halted to the sheer force that opposed both directions.
Razorback bore down on the demon’s blade. Gradually, the zweihander broke his defense like a cannonball against a castle wall. He ducked back, dodging the lethal blow before it cut him in half. This girl really could back up the power she had behind that sword and still brag some more; he wondered if she would join the Ashen Blades if he asked? She’d make a better hard hitter than Claptrap.

The faunus reared back around,pivoting Blizzard back in his direction. Pure rage fueled every deathly swing she threw at Kuzuru, but it was becoming clear that was her only tactic now. The demon spawned his chains in his hands. It whirred loudly as he spun it up like a lasso, ready to be thrown. His target was the girl’s legs, she was too open to an attack standing atop her horse. As the chain came through the air, the faunus stomped down upon it. It didn’t tie her legs up, but still latched onto her ankle. It wasn’t his original plan, but this left a lot of fun ideas for him to please himself with. He pulled back on the chain with all of his force, launching Amber in to the barb wire fence at on his other side. The demon chuckled loudly as Amber was unwillingly returned to her horse, covered in her own blood from her back, but nothing changed. Her expression, her intentions, her motivation and her determination didn’t care if the wounds across her back would soon make her bleed out. She would destroy him before that happened.

The panther-girl grabbed the chain latched to her ankle and yanked with all her strength, doing the exact same thing Kuzuru did, but instead, he came straight for her. The broad side of the faunus blade crashed into his spine and slammed into the soil, causing a small crater that nearly knocked Blizzard off balance. As he was returned to his horse, she wondered if he was still alive after that.

845/850 words in GD. Amber used Time Dust to open Kuzuru to some devastating attacks, and used her own power up - Semblance Active. 0/6 SP

[Karl Jak]

Face to Face
#22 Skeletor & #38 Kuzuru vs #14 Amber Veritz & #26 Broly

The chaos of the mounted combat crawled to its conclusion.

Amber pulled back as quickly as she could.  In her periphery, she saw the bulky form of Broly sagged onto his horse.  When had he been removed from the equation?  Recently?  Minutes ago?  The faunus’ nerves were shot as she sized up the pair of warriors approaching her.

The woman—Razorback ready, willing, and able—sprayed death in front of her.  Her foes scattered, likely an uncoordinated attempt to flank her.

Weapon converting to its close-quarters form, Amber parried the first lance strike that aimed for her head.

Skeletor, however, didn’t have such an obstacle when he swung the havoc staff like a baseball bat at the back of the woman’s skull.

With a groan, Amber dropped Razorback and slumped sideways in her horse.

[spoiler]

Skeletor (2.8) & Kuzuru (2.7) defeat Amber (2.6) and Broly (n/a)

Skeletor & Kuzuru advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Bandit and Kerrigan

Skeletor now has the Malefactor

Amber moves to the Redemption bracket.  Pending any additional dropouts, she’ll be slotted in with an NPC and participate in Match G, against the winner of Ahana/Larva vs Ok D/Marisa

Broly has withdrawn from Dante’s Abyss and may exit the preshow facility.

[/spoiler]