Duel:Blaze v Rheven

Duel Info

Judges: Arien, Tiphareth (no mid)

Stakes: Blaze's scales

Venue: Kelay Way

Date: June 6,2009

Winner: Rheven

Rheven vs Blaze

Rheven stands opposite of Blaze, completely still as a calm wind blows by, sending the looser portions of his crimson robes fluttering about. Reaching either hand up to his face, the vampire takes hold of his hood and flicks it back, revealing his pallid features, complete with a confident smirk. Dropping his left hand low, a simple 'snap' of his thumb and forefinger resounds, causing the staff known as Oshikai to shimmer into existence; the weapon, forged of dragon bone with an ebon orb atop, falls easily into its master's hands. Without further delay, the infamous device is pointed straight at Blaze, humming with latent power. "Blaze, we have delayed this long enough. The time has passed for words, taunts, and insults...I surely hope you are prepared..." Saying nothing else, the smirk melts from the arch mage's lips, which then part to the tune of an arcane chant - the words that follow are mind boggling yet strangely poetic to the ears that can translate them, and it only takes a matter of moments for them to weave together into the spell Rheven desires. As the last word for the incantation dies from the revenant's lips, Oshikai is rather abruptly lifted and driven into the ground with inhuman force! The land of Hollow below trembles in protest, stone and dirt being ripped from the earth with the greatest ease; most of this debris merely falls back to the ground, but behind the legendary dragon, a few clusters of the landscape levitate. Not held together by druid magic but arcane forces alone, they begin to melt together, twisting and taking shape until they form into a fairly large golem. Faceless and mindless, this being obeys Rheven's silent command alone, and it is that command that forces the being's limbs to wrap around blaze swiftly, the grip of this creature sure to be mighty indeed, even if it is not up to Blaze's power. In a seamless transition of spell calling, the arch mage takes a simple step backward and points the crown of the staff he holds toward the earth, shouting a single word of power that sends nearby birds in Kelay forest scattering from the sheer volume; suddenly a beam of pure frost is unleashed from the dragon-bone staff, sending the earth that it comes into contact with into a deep freeze. The effects to anything living are noticed as a squirrel scampers by, desperately trying to avoid the conflict - it is frozen instantly before tipping over, shattering into countless pieces. It is only a matter of time before this wave of frigid force hits Blaze, and one would think his fate will be little different, should he not evade.

Blaze watched Rheven quietly, his breathing came calm and slow as he seemed relaxed. As the attack came, he seemed content, not speaking or replying to the words of the vampire. Shielding his face briefly from the debris, Blaze kneeled and felt his anti-magic aura consume his very body, hopefully protecting him from some of the attack to come. As the golem approached and took the old dragon within his grip, Blaze's eyes narrowed, and a draconic strength boiled within his very essence. With a heavy grunt, the human formed draconic being slammed his arms outward, breaking the hold of the golem and perhaps even shattering the creatures hands in the process, sending its earthen flesh once again back to the ground were it belonged. As Blaze fell to the ground, he found that shot of ice traveling at a swift speed, and with an even faster thought, he threw his cloak from around his shoulders, allowing the artifact like item to take the damage, freezing in place as the article of magic clothing was thrown from its holder to vanish away in an ever-waiting portal of treasures. As he landed and looked up from his current position, he took in a deep breath of air, and as his humanoid lungs expanded, filled with the clear life that helped his very heart beat. He pushed forth and spit into the wind a roar of unnatural draconic nature, the force that came from such a display would shake the loose dirt of the ground, it would rattle plants and cause leafs to fall from trees in a one-mile radius. The windows of the surrounding buildings would creak and the very dust within the structures would fall from the ceilings upon the inhabitants within. An aura would erupt from his very body in a shining violet light that held small tendrils of almost deific magic, the magic itself seemed to cause time to slow slightly, as the very existence of the world moved at a speed slower than normal, increasing his own movements, which were even more hastily empowered by the runes of speed held upon his very flesh. His armored shell to the onlookers would perhaps be seen blurry, shifting like an unstable projected image would, if unfocused. With a heavy tumble, he turned and became consumed in a portal of light, twisting and turning as he appeared and reappeared in various locations along the Kelay Way which came randomly into his mind, finally after several moments of hopefully confusing movements, he would appear along the right side of Rheven. His heavy fist clinched tightly beneath the jagged gauntlets that set upon his hands, and with a quick but graceful movement, he attempted to send a devastating blow against the vampire foes skull. The very power behind the strike would be enough to shatter bone and decapitate a man of at least great physical strength, ripping ones head clean from his shoulders, but only if the attack would go un-dodged. As his fist was fully thrown, he was once again consumed by the portal that once before had taken him, only to appear upon the opposing side of Rheven. Turning in motion with his other hand outstretched, his palm open and facing his enemy, a blade of force sprouted into the air, aiming for the very existence of the archmages staff. Blaze knew he was capable of breaking other dragons bones, and he was looking to destroy that object that Rheven held so closely in combat.

Rheven scowls as the golem is reduced to rubble and his frigid attack is foiled, taking another step back in assumption of a readied stance. The violent burst of violet light sends the arch mage's eyes shutting swiftly, a slight grunt emitted from the sight; as the powerful dragon's spell takes effect though, Rheven triggers one of his own...with his eyes closed, he relies on his magically attuned-senses to detect what is coming, not trusting his eyes with such a foe. When Blaze makes his appearance at Rheven's right side, the vampire is given a half second's notice, taking it to duck quickly - or quickly to him, anyway, who knows what time is doing - and in doing so, narrowly avoids the surely spine-shattering blow. The arch mage is unable, however, to move at a speed fast enough to avoid the second effort; Oshikai takes the full brunt of the mighty strike, a sickening 'SNAP' echoing throughout the area, sending those already creaking windows shuddering with the force of such a loud sound. The shaft of the powerful staff cracks under the force, nearly splitting it in two, holding together only by Rheven's hands alone. The revenant's eyes open and fall to Oshikai, a sudden, sinister sort of laugher coming from him at the very sight; lifting his emerald pools of knowledge to Blaze, his lips fold into a full grin, revealing his pearly white fangs that gleam in the newly born light of the moon above, having vanquished the sun only so long ago. Just what the vampire finds so amusin is unknown, but the focus is moreso on the arch mage's staff - damaged as it is, the orb atop begins to glow with an odd light, revealing the tortured soul of a dragon within, trapped for ages, perhaps even eons within this dastardly device. Still in close quarters with the dragon, Rheven merely stays still as blackened flames begin to ooze into existence around the weapon, gathering together and melding into the shape of a limbless dragon above both their heads, flight its only way of moving at all; the devouring Kuirlkisks, as these flames are known, are commanded into existence by Rheven via the dragon within, forcing him to usher them into battle. Without hesitation, this limbless beast forged of soul-searing flame descends upon Blaze, the jaws of the flame-forged beast opening wide, symbolically more than anything; their intention is nothing less than to consume Blaze's soul and leave his body as a mere husk.

Blaze eyes narrowed as he prepared himself, staying in place as well, at least for a short time to think. Not taking too long, it seemed his assault had not gone completely as planned, and more so in anger of his brethrens life, good or evil, trapped in that broken staff. In an attempt to dodge, as well as strike his combatant, Blaze kicked from the ground, taking advantage of the still standing Rheven, using his weight and power to lift himself off the surface, and push himself against the vampire in a shoulder ram of some sort. Blaze made use of those spikes and razors upon his armor, pressing hard against the ribs of the archmage, attempting to tare deep and hear the sound of metal grinding against old bone. The shoulder slam, if it should go as planned would send the foe flying and airborne horizontally, preferably aiming for a walk of a building or large stone. However the attack was not hasty enough, and in turn Blaze found himself consumed by the dark flaming jaws of the creature, consumed and vanishing into the darkness. As a moment passed however, a light would echo forth and the Rheven would find Blaze emerging from the darkness, unharmed, as his soul was not within his body, and he was already a shell. "I am already empty..vampire". His armor steamed, and the aura that reflected off of him in the night was prismatic, each color fading and forming into a new shine. Blaze however did not know that the creature intended to consume his soul, and was lucky enough that the attack would have no effect. He felt it was time to become more serious, and hold back nothing, he prepared himself as his opaline eyes flared brightly.

Rheven , being in such close quarters with Blaze and coupled with the time slowing spell - which is assumedly still in place - is not quick enough to avoid the heavily armored shoulder of Blaze. The only motion managed is a slight turn, and the sheer force of Blaze's thrust shoulder sends him flying as intended, staff and all, stopped only by the facade of the popular Kelay Tavern; wood splinters and cracks, the indention of the vampire forming into the impact area. Due to his turn prior to being hit, the revenant's shoulder seems to have been torn by the spiny armor rather than his ribcage, but the effects are no less gruesome...his arm lies limp now, pale flesh torn away to reveal the bone, rivulets of crimson pouring from the mangled skin of the arch mage. When the cobwebs clear from his stunned mind, Rheven looses a venomous hiss of agony, falling limply away from the nearly caved in face of the tavern. Just before he drops to the ground below face first, a pair of leathery wings spout from the revenant vampire's back, stilling his balance long enough to rest on his uneasy legs. Lifting his pained gaze, the arch mage takes in the sight of Blaze, his lone good arm trembling, hand barely holding together the staff, clinging to it as if it is his only lifeline. "...Perhaps you are more powerful than I once thought, Blaze. But enough...you are empty, as you say? Then it is only your body that need be destroyed...and that can be arranged..." As Rheven trails off, one may notice the trickles of blood gathering in his left hand, pooling together from the useless limb into his palm. Suddenly, a most grotesque change occurs; the vampire's flesh seems to sag, taking on a darker hue, the sound of bones rearranging disgustingly evident to anyone with decent hearing. What is revealed now is perhaps the truest form of the beast of vampirism, called to the surface by the powers he alone controls as this lands only living revenant. Seeming more like a demon, Rheven's now clawed hand steadies upon the damaged staff known as Oshikai, which begins to shimmer with a crimson light, calling to the collection of blood within the arch mage's other hand. Whisked away by this magical command, the blood seems to maintain the shape of an orb, floating around the tip of the staff before being directed at Blaze; of course, it is to him it flies, enveloping with the intent of swallowing Blaze within. Anything inside this ghastly orb of blood seems to wither and die, decaying within seconds of being introduced to the corruptive power of the malignant crimson of the revenant archmage. Should it capture Blaze as well, one can only imagine that even his powerful armor and body may too be affected, decaying and aging at a rapid rate.

Blaze watched as the orb was sent in his direction, and yet again he did not reply to the words of the vampire. With a quick thought he centered his anti-magic aura upon his very gauntlets, and put them forth as a shield, hoping to briefly stop the decay of his flesh and armor. As the crimson liquid could be felt shattering against the metal armor, he could feel bits of droplets splash against his hair and upon his mask. He felt the corrupted parts of hair withering and dieing away, his face-plate decaying as if aged centuries in seconds, rusting away, and even his gauntlets were going, but much slower. Blaze's eyes narrowed and roared yet again, displaying his power in a vocal manner, and just as the sound of hopeful intimidation was sent forth, Blaze bent towards the ground and jutted up into the cooling night air. His fists clenched near his armored stomach and slowly a ball of light began to materialize in the wind, inches between his blood-covered appendages. As the light swirled and slowly grew, small sparks flickered into life and around the created energy, a crackle began to build and all other sounds seemed to cease to exist for the brief moment. He was finished with his hand to hand combat, his dull movements, though powerful, didn't seem to get his point across. As the sphere of pure energy opened, a swirling glitter of light began to glow around Blaze, the stars that sparkled above this world would become dim and drowned out by the very essence that was being created. As the object grew, the old dragon could feel his human shell trembling, the muscles in his arms clenched tightly, cramping as he struggled to hold the energy that he processed from life itself, to control it. The mass hissed louder and then suddenly stopped. Seconds passed as the silence was broken again by a blast that radiated out from the ancient dragons very body, his limbs outstretched in a display of true and raw power, just as a shockwave of destruction was sent forth into the world. Blaze kept control the best he could over the natural ability, harnessing it, keeping it from harming those innocent and allowing the energy to pass through them without harm, sending a tingle over their flesh, he however, did not do this act for Rheven, yet kept the ability at bay enough so that it would not kill the vampire mage. The light, briefly drowning out the night sky, slowly faded, and Blaze fell to the ground, kneeled. His hair in places was dead and decayed, his gauntlets damaged, his mask, very damaged, but the blood had been washed away by the sheer force of the explosion, and his weakened view would trail to where Rheven stood last, viewing to see if the vampire was still standing, or if he had managed to defend himself against the explosion of divine essence. Each breath Blaze took was deep, strained, he felt his body ache from the display, and he knew that after tonight, he would need rest.

Rheven screams at the sight of the piercing blast of apparently divine essence, blinding him in seconds and leaving behind only a world of darkness. It is all the revenant can do to drag Oshikai before him, allowing it to bear the brunt of the fierce assault; already damaged, the shaft splits entirely, leaving Rheven's grip, but more shocking is the fact that the orb atop the weapon shatters! Tiny bits of glass scatter everywhere, but it is what is unleashed that is more stunning - the soul of Falksikurist, the dragon held within Rheven's weapon, is finally freed. Unable to revolt against his master though, the soul of the dragon unwittingly becomes a sacrifice to save Rheven the worst of the damage; the power of the dragon or perhaps his masters own unholy will causing him not to be affected by Blaze's attempt to cover others from harm, denying him that; screaming like a wraith, Falksikurist cannot survive the exposion of divine force in his weakened state...he dies, sacrificing his form in an explosion that counters against the powerful blast of Blaze, sending the arch mage off of his feet once again. The ground's unkind hand 'catches' the revenant, skidding across the rough surface of the earth. New wounds are torn open and his skin is now layered in dirt and grime. Coconscious, but still largely blind, Rheven lifts his head to take in the sight of Blaze, his torn lips sneering; clawed fingers scraping the dirt as the battle comes to a close.