Frozen Faith (Anyone)

IC:

As the winds blew north toward the sea, Zohik smiled as the grass beneath his feet shivered and coiled from the cold. He held his eyes shut as always, not caring for the thoughts running through his mind. Why, why was he here afetr such a long period of peace. The fighting had started again yet nothing had come to him. Zohik, the one who had started all this fighting. Why had nothing come to him throguh all this time of waste.

His blood began to flow slower as the cold overcame his body. His muscles became tight and his mind solid with thoughts. He thought clearer then ever before. Though the battle, he felt, was not yet about to begin. An opponent approached, far away, yet near enough to attack.

Ooc: I'll be using my character in my sig.

A cold howl of the wind swept through the seaside plain, muffling the sound of the mercenary's footsteps as they advanced forward through the vegetation of the coast. The fresh scent of the salt water reached his nose as he briskly walked. His eyes were cold and a silence overcame the two as they made eye contact, waiting for the other to speak. He stood quiet though as he unseathed his battered but reliable claymore and fell a battle pose, his hands perched upon the grip of his trusted weapon. A general rule of thumb in combat for him, was to let his opponent begin first and hopefully seize the intiative into tricking him into a ruse. But it did not seem that he would budge an inch. And he didn't even draw his weapon yet. This confused the former soldier to an extent, as his visage began to transform into a slightly malevolent scowl. The virtue of patience was running out for him.

"Go ahead and pray. I will give you that long before I smite you. Prepare yourself. Don't keep Lady Death waitnig. You know how it is when you're late."

Ooc: I may be rusty after a year so don't expect more then what I am.

IC:

Zohik slowly slid his hand toward the hilt of his blade but withdrew it as his enemy starred at his face. His eyes were not open yet he knew a human's instinct and his eyes were as ever open. Zohik smiled at his words as he took a step forward. The cold had made his body tight and ready for battle but he had waited for so long that he was not sure of victory. His tactical mind use had been wasted waiting for battle and never seeming to appear in such a place yet here he was, now.

"So. . . You think you can beat me? You must not know power if you are challenging me!"

Zohik yelled out as he drew his sword and charged at the unknown opponent. Zohik's blade fell hard toward his opponent's shoulder. The wind almost screamed before the speed.

Ooc: Mhm. You seem good.

The mercenary's face eased into a light smirk as he saw his opponent take such a seemly impulsive maneuver. His busy hands swung his sword higher and in a graceful motion, a clang of metal sounded as the hired sword parried his adversery's blow. He gave another keen scowl as he thrusted forward in a sweeping motion but saw that his opponent blocked it easily. The wind blew in his face and as his bangs began to sway, he dashed in a feint maneuver, backing away as soon as he seemed to strike. His enemy rushed forward to meet his assault but his eyes opened in terror as he suddenly realized the ruse. The knight bolted in full motion with adrenaline surging through his veins and his heart pumping hard and gave a hefty swing, ready to cleave the hapless foe in half.

Zohik's face became stern from being joyful. His sword flipped with god-like speed and he stabbed as hard as he could into the ground as his opponent's sword came into range of hitting him. the vibrations of such an attack hurt his hand and he let go of his sword swiftly recovering an attack. He slid his body forward and let out a mighty punch. The impact sounded in the air and he jumped back plucking his sword out from in the ground.

"Well, I have also under-estimated you. I admit you are better then I thought, yet not better alone."

Zohik gave a slight grin as he held his sword pointing at the ground with only his thumb and Pointer Finger. His jaw rose slightly toward the sky and his hand let go of the sword yet he whispered something as the blade fell. Suddenly it stopped! The sword was floating in mid-air and a slight gleam fell from it. A Light blue glow. Without warning it flipped into Zohik's hand and his opponent watched as his muscle gave way. It was as if the sword was souled.

"Ziton. . ."

He whispered as freezing winds blew their way. Zohik smiled at the cold once again. He held his hand up and palm raised to the sky, the sword was spinning, pointing toward the sky. He gripped it strongly and brang it back down.

"It's amazing how things react when your soul was put into them."

Zohik said as he stepped forward again. The grass that was beneath his feet was covered in frost along with the weeds and soil. His body temp' was frozen and his skin had become white/blue.

"I'd say it is your turn."

Zohik said as he turned sideways and took a stance. Hokiju stnding before his grasp.

The sudden cold overtook Arthur but he did not let it subdue him completely as his skin turned from a healthy shade of tan to pale. A grimace escaped his lips as his opponent began to mock him in a witty form. His hand trembled as his sword swerved side to side, but he seized his balance and ran forward again. He would have to acheive his inner focus if he was to defeat his opponent, somebody who he had clearly underestimated-- the one who had also given him a bruise in his groins, numb from the sudden fridgness. His veins beggining to freeze, he lunged forward with burning vigor emerging from the inner depth of his soul. Steel contracted steel as sparks flew from the lock, Arthur swiping fiercly as he slid towards his opponent's lower frame. His rival slashed downward but it quickly registered to the mercenary to block the blow. His adversery's legs buffeted him as he emerged from his position and thrusted forward in a barely controllable frenzy, as a sudden warmth began to engulf him.

The man Zohik had faced stood still as Zohik now jumped back. He had ascaped much. Awkwardly enough, his skin started to part, just now from when the attacks were made so long ago. He held his skin together trying to slow the blood. He let his tenseness fall and went completely come. His hand was held over the wound and when he removed it, frozen blood covered over and the wound had stopped bleeding but the pain remained. Zohik looked up at his opponent.

"So, you're faster then I thought."

Zohik stood up straight now and held Hokiju forward. The blade glistened with ice and melting water. The gleam from the sun glared toward Zohik. As he slid his left foot forward he smiled.

"Ziton has a way of almost being perfect except for one default. Only one. See if you can find it!"

He yelled out as he dashed forward. The blade almost disappeared for it's speed was incredible. It flew by Auther's head whispering in another language in every pass. The warrior was struggling to keep up with the blade but seemed to dodge all of the attacks. Zohik slid one hand behind his back and drew his Shantu. He waited for a slight moment and threw the short blade at his opponent. The blade flew just as Zohik's sword came down. . .

Arthur panted with exhaustion and sweat began to drip on either of his temples and felt the feel of cold metal collide with his skin. He let a yelp escape him as he forced his legs forward into his opponent's chest as the sword began to dig into his flesh. The opponent fell back but seemed undaunted by this sudden move and rushed forward again to begin another onsalught of his furious attacks. Arthur swiped at his dripping sweat as he hurried to the side, more and more adrenaline pumping into his body at an alarming rate, clutching his sword tighter to move in for a sudden move. He shut his eyes and whispered somethnig incoherent as a shining light began to grow from his palms and his eyes began to speak of a tense, cruicial moment. Zohik's eyes seemed to be bothered by the sudden flash and he offered a sudden pause as a beam of searing and eye piercing light tore through the frigd air and was whizzing right at the hapless Zohik.

"Say hello to my own little friend."

Zohik started stumbling back with the force of this awkward light. Spinning around swinging his sword he slowly stopped and stood up straight. His eyes were still shut thought the light from whatever move his opponent had used came through quite strongly.

"So, you've learned to wield a stronger form. techniques have a way of never being able to be mastered."

Zohik took another step forward. His opponent also did this. Now both just about to attack Zohik bent down and picked up his Shantu. He slid it across his skin and sheathed it in once more. His body was shimmering in the sun's light. Sweat had fallen but froze to his skin. In a way it almost made his opponent laugh at the way it looked upon his face but Zohik shook his head quickly and dashed forward making the smile upon Auther's face diminish. Thier swords met quickly, both matching each other percisely. The sharp rings from their blade hitting together echoed throughout the field. Stab after block and block after slash they made their way into a struggle for strength. Zohik knew he was stronger but was afraid of the outcome ofpushing away with his opponent's questioning speed. Zohik pushed forward and jumped back excepting a minor slash across his chin and chest.

Without any word he rushed right back in. Stabbed forward the glow of Ziton disappeared and slowly he fell to attacks. Slashes came that Zohik was just not fast enough to block, even with the size of his opponent's sword he couldn't dodge in time. Gashes formed throughout his arms and stomach. He jumped up as high as he could and arieled to the ground.

"Maybe a sense of greater skill is at hand."

He spoke as he stood. Freezing the wounds like all the others. In a way his endurance was amazing to with-hold such pain with no emotions coming through physically. He stood and sheathed in his sword. it would come to no use having barely enough skill to even block one of his opponent's skill in such. Auther's expression fell to confusion. He kept his stance for battl yet was questioning this action in his mind.

". . .Seijin. . ."

Zohik whispered at the wind blew. . . Ice shards formed through the moisture in the air. Slowly they moved through the air yet so small not to be seen. he wind blew once more, quite strongly. Zohik smiled to see his enemy would not be able to dodge such an attack.

"A test to your endurance is at hand. Your show of might will be curtained. See how long you can endure such pain."

The shard punctured his skin and scratches formed throughout Author's body. Foot to head the wond blew strongly. . .

Another groan of pain escaped Arthur's lips as he began to brace his frame in response to the incoming gale, blood spurting from his various wounds that soon took him. He clutched his sword's grip ever tighter as he struggled to regain ground, the cold wind rushing into him mercilessly. His eyes became struck with frost as he began to seize control of the scenario and almost resorted to screamnig as his feet began to scrape the cold rocks. He shut his eyes once more and with his free hand he lifted his hand into a blocking poise. He whispered something that was lost in the wind as a sphere of light began to form within his numbing palm.

"Begone!"

A burst of light exploded and surged forward into Zohik, generating greak sparks and emitting piercing light into the middle of the sudden gale. Another sphere of lightning followed in quick sucession making his way into the mass of yellow hue. Arthur panted heavily as he steadied his body and gave his focus back to his sword. He blinked with frustration as the wind struck his eyes again but he remained resilient. And then he jumped with great force in one sweeping and descivie motion, a war cry sounding from his tired mouth as he thrusted forward in the darkness, sword poised to strike his opponent from midair, his position only illuminated by the light.

Zohik ducked to dodge this unexpected attack. The emitted gale that had come once before had already blinded and pushed him back stunning him slightly. He paused though, when he ducked. The might claymore that hisopponent held stabbed straight through his upper left shoulder. The thick cold metal grinded against his bone til it snapped and let an uncontrolable cream of pain exalt from Zohik's lips. The battle scream echoed into the flow windthat once again slit his enemy multiple times. Zohik took grip of the sword and trhough his opponent back with a mighty kick and plucked the mighty metal from within his flesh. The crimson blood that gushed from the open wound streamed down his body and only now could he regain the thought to freeze the wound.

So much energy had been used freezing his expected wounds that he had forgotten to save some. The pain was immense. He sat upon the frozen grass covered in frost from his body.

"So. . . seems I am loosing. . . May I not fall into darkness, with a kiss of pain, before I curtain your power!"

He screamed out as he stood and unsheathed his sword once more for support. He ran forward, stumbling slightly at every step and slashed forward at his unready opponent. A minor gash formed upon his opponent chest yet the few attacks after that were blocked. Zohik stepped back and leaned against his sword, now only being held in his right hand.

He seemed to want to open his eyes yet something kept him from doing so. He ran forward once more and slashed down after slash and after slash again. many minor hits were made but his strength had been mostly lost within the stabbing blow from his opponent.

He threw himself into his enemy and collided with the ground. He rolled of his oppoent yet did now suffer freely. New gashes formed throughout his left arm as though to increase the pain. Zohik restained himself form freezing the wounds to save as much energy as possible. The cold crimson blood dripped to the ground from both fighters. Zohik only smiled with the pain yet hurt within more then what he expressed. . .

Arthur massaged his burning ribs with a grimace after he repeled yet another strike and saw his opponent lunge at him suddenly. He gave another anxious yelp as he fell into the cold ground, the scarlet essence of blood spurted spilled into the cold ground and burn surged and shot through his fallen body. He saw that his rival had refrained from freezing his wounds and sudden confusion began to race about his exhausted mind. His numb hands drew away towards his discarded broad sword but it was to no avail. The feeling of his eyes and lips began to drain away as the silent moments drew on, the wind rasping overhead and sending more frigd blasts into Arthur's pale body. His neck steered to his side and he saw his opponent in a similar position in a wicked and malevolent smile of sorts, a trail of blood by all of his body. Arthur grunted, some quivering entering himself as he retreived his sword and attempted to find the work back his legs. Finally, he got back in a crouched position, cold wind gusting as he struggled to move forward and send a last cleave into his opponent.

Zohik dashed into his oppoent. He stabbed forward as did his opponent. Their bodies barely being able to stand. He brushed his frozen tears from his face as he let go of his sword. The cling of it's fallen glory hit hard in Zohik's ears. He fell to his knees as he put his palms to his stomach and slid them across his cold skin to find a shivering blade. Warm blood flows from the center of his chest and he put his hands against the ground. Spikes of ice started tp form all around him til their was a miniture wall around the warrior. His eyes remained shut as they did from the beginning of the battle.

"So the cold kiss come. . . Let me see things through death's eye and swim through it's veins. . ."

The mighty warrior said lastly as he fell to the ground. Author struggle to stand and starred at Zohik's sword. The blade wasn't pointed at him. . .

Arthur let out an anguished cry as his nerves broke and more of the scarlet liquid poured into the pale snow but he noticed that his sword had also struck true and that his opponent began to murmur quietly in a hushed tone. The gale cut the sky through the sky again as his rival recited something softly as hot blood poured both of their ailing frames and a great burst of ice swung on all sides as he shut his eyes. He contuined on in his faint voice and at once, a harsh wind detered Arthur's eyes. When he regained his sight after hearing his adversery's fading tones. He gave a exhausted cough that pierced his throat shrilly and he saw that Zohik had done a grusome deed. His hearing created a deep pulsating as faint and farmilar sounsd began to return to him and he heard something, as if the storm may have stopped. He swooped his frame dowwnard and dug his sword into the ground beside his fallen enemy and he held both of his hands on his hilt and shut his eyes, panting heavily.

And then darkness overcame him.

Ooc: I take it this is the end?

Ooc: I suppose. I'll say you won this match by pure skill in writing. Your description is amazing.