Beggining of the end(anyone)

This is just a battle to warm up my new character link in siggy. Any one can join. That is all...

. . . .

Tantin opened his eyes to reveal a bright light in a color-less room. The bright light spoke to him these where his words. ”Do you know why I brought you here.”

“No” Tantin replied nervously.

“I am here to test you. To see if you are ready for the challenges that are going to be put ahead of you,” the lights voice boomed.

“What if I don’t want your challenge? How can I trust you? You have shown me nothing!” Tantin snapped back.

“HA you challenge my motives. You question my identity. You mortals are fools aren’t you? If you care so much and I know you do, I am The Master of Time. Sort of like a god if that makes no sense to you.” The Master of Time replied.

“So correct me if wrong aren’t their evil gods as there is pure? So how do I know you are not trying to trick me?”

“ENOUGH! I grow tired of your persistence. You will accept the challenge for I am not giving you a choice.” The master of Time replied with great anger. As he finished his words, the world began to swirl and mix into each other. Black was taking over his mind and soon he was unconscious.

Waking up he saw a strange world. Green and trees hovered around him. This world was much different from the desert setting he was used to. Getting up he looked around. A jungle he said to himself. He remembered it from a training class he took so long ago but yet so far away. Vines of, red green, and brown, hanging from every direction he hated this world he was in.

“Finally I have found you, I have come to collect the bounty on your head.” A strange voice said behind him…

OoC: Reserved. I'll use Daryn.

BiC:
This one was worth a lot of money, a lot of money. Daryn had been approached by a man with a heavy purse and a stone cold heart. From his dabbles with his lordship, Daryn could tell that this man was bent on ruling. His eyes were hard, his mind sharp. He wanted something.

"I need a tracker - I need a good one."

Daryn's left eyebrow arched, the fire from the tavern hearth casting a shadow over his white hair. "You won't find a better one this side of...... Torungur."

The man opposite Daryn's face hinted at confusion. "The northern continent?"

"That's the one. It's about three seas and ten thousand miles away. I'm your man," Daryn stated.

The man nodded and handed Daryn a slip of paper. "That's the target. I want him alive and in good condition." He slid a
strange device over the hardwood table. "When you've found him, call me with this," he explained, pointing to a button portruding from device.

"Will do. As for payment....?" he trailed.

"One thousand pieces of silver, standard trade weight." Three coins clinked upon the table. "An advance," he contributed.

Daryn's greedy hands flew across the table. He grabbed the coins and pocketed them silently. His employer smiled.

******

From his profile, this one was apparently from an advanced city - or time, if Daryn guessed right. He wore his silver hair short and spiked, and his face was blackened by burns. Daryn smiled. THese men had trained him well. He could bend time to his will, and that didn't bode well. Oh well, I'll snare him with some web, concluded Daryn.

When he reached the jungle, he dismissed his tarantula steed and continued through the forest on foot. No need to tell his quarry where he was. Daryn looked back down at the alien object which he had been given. It served more than one purpose - it gave the tracker a three mile radius of his bounty.

Daryn summoned his two spider minions. "This man," Daryn thrust up the paper, "find him." The chitinous beings nodded to their master and scampered up the trees. They would find the prey. They always did.

******

Four hours later, the smaller of the two returned. It chittered as a dog wags its tail. Daryn grinned. He was close. "Lead me to him," commanded the spider mage. An hour later they came to a clearing. Apparently he didn't know to much about the jungle. The man was gazing off in every direction but back.

Daryn would've just walked up to the man and sedated him, but he wanted to give the outlander a fighting chance. Well, at least a regular chance. He ordered his spider up into a tree, clear of view. “Finally I have found you. I have come to collect the bounty on your head.” The man whirled around, a small sword already in hand.

"I won't go back!" he yelled, armed to the teeth. He wore no armor, no protection. Daryn muttered his favorite quote: "Only a fool and a wizard wears nothing but his skin." The silver hair caught the moonlight and crowned the man with determenation.

"Well then I'll just have to make you." Daryn's hand moved into the throes of a spell. , and spotted a nest of birds. Those will do, he thought. THe black priest took control of that family of birds, and he possesed them to crash into the man. They whirled at the man like arrows; their beaks were like iron. The aim was true, and there was no chance of failure to hit.

They missed. The broken bodies of the birds laid in crumple heaps, blood pumping from their mishapen bodies.

"How did you...." Daryn was cut off. The man had already moved to attack.

Tantin, knowing this man would not stop until he was killed, charged to attack. Running forward, Tantin dodge the stranger’s heavy mace that fell towards the ground. Leaping off a fallen tree he stabbed for the head of the stranger. With more luck then skill the cloaked man ducked the deadly strike sending Tantin’s blade into a tree behind the stranger.

Pulling his longer blade out of its sheath, he turned and swung feeling the impact of steel to flesh grabbed his other blade from the tree and turned around. To his surprise, it was only a small coyote that he had killed and not the man garbed in black. More blood now was covering the ground to the jungle.

“So you are the challenge,” Tantin thought aloud.

“What are you talking about? I am here to collect the bounty on your head.”

“Bounty on my head you are making no sense,” Tantin replied. The Master of Time must have set this up and not tell the warrior about his plans. That means he will kill me if I don’t do anything.

“Enough talking, we are getting nowhere like this.” Daryn yelled at the burnt warrior. Getting ready to swing his mace charged forward. Seeing the coming the warrior wrapped in black charged up for his jump. Just as the mace was about to connect, he leaped into the air avoiding death.

About fifty feet above the ground he saw that there was nowhere for him to land, so just as pointed his body down he stopped time. Looking around he noticed a small branch about ten feet down and five feet in front of him. This is going to have to do Tantin thought to him self as time began to move again.

Diving towards the branch, he grabbed it with one of his hands and was hanging still high above the ground. Thinking he was safe, the burnt warrior heard an impending sound of a breaking branch. Jerking down quickly and stopping he noticed the branch was about to break. Using all of his strength he swung him self to the tree holding up the branch. Just as the branch broke, he let go and flew towards the tree sword in hand. Stabbing the blade into the tree, he saved his life. Dropping down to a stronger branch, he walked out on it and saw the man cloaked in black confused to where he had gone.

The fight almost ended there. A large branch crashed into the ground where Daryn had been standing. Luckily he had thrown himself forward at the last minute, tearing his cloak. He now stood in the center of the clearin, his mind and eyes searching for the prey.

There. The man didn't know Daryn had seen him. He'd put on a ruse, and fish him out. "Where in the Demonwebs are you!" Daryn shouted, pretending to be angry. He continued to gaze around the clearing.

Guardian, attack him, Daryn ordered the spider already sitting in the tree. The spider sent a buzz through their mental connection. This would be fun.

For a moment, there was silence. Then came the clatter of chitin on tree. It had begun.

*****

Food, it whispered to itself, blind to anything but the man below him. The spider charged down the tree; bloodlust baked it's stomach.

Soon the thing jumped at the man - who by now was aware of the huge insect thundering toward him. It's eight legs whirled around in hunger. It would win. Of that, it was sure.

But time slowed down. At the last second - the man jumped from the tree, and flung himself above the spider. With a crunch, he landed a boot on it's back.

Pain exploded in the things head as it hit the leafy ground. It was hurt but not dead.

******

Daryn watched as the man used his speed and agility to take down his minion. Daryn sneered. "No matter!" He shouted. "We've only just begun to fight!" His hands moved quickly, as he called out the Fear spell.

The man dropped his raised blade on the ground, and covered his eyes and ears. Daryn smiled as he grabbed his mace. The hunter stalked in.

OoC: Mind if I join? Soledad's the bounty hunter, he's in the sig.

BiC:

"Who is he?" Soledad asked as he looked at the picture in front of him.

"Your next 'project.'" The voice came from across the table. Sitting there was a man dressed in all leather armor and a sword hanging behind his seat. By the looks of him, he was a fighter, but Soledad knew better. He was an information gatherer.

"Where can I find him? How much am I getting?" Uniform questions.

"A jungle a bit of a way east of here. And you'll be getting enough."

"How much?" Soledad asked menacingly as he looked up at the man for the first time. His face was scarred, but no new ones since the last time they had met. He would be handsome, if not for those marks. He was still young, but had already dedicated his life to his passion. And that's why he was the best.

The man pulled out two small sacks and spilled the contents on the table. Gold coins poured out of them. "This is about ten percent."

"That's enough" was all Soledad replied as he got up and began walking out.

"I'd tell you to be careful, but I don't really care" the man said with a chuckle. "But in all seriousness, this man's pretty amazing."

"You know that I don't really care either." Soledad closed the door behind him and the alleyway he had gone into was plunged into darkness.


A few days later he reached the jungle. The treetops obscured any sights inside. He moved down the hill hoping to find the man soon.

After a while of walking, he heard something. It was hard to tell how far he was in the trees or how long he had been walking because most of the sunlight was blocked by the thick canopy. As he moved toward the sound, he knew what it was. The sounds of battle.

He quickly cloaked himself and moved into the treetops. When he got close enough, he peered through the leaves. There were two men rushing about the ground. Then one leaped into the treetops. The one left on the ground was small. He did not look phsycially strong, but Soledad knew better than to underestimate him. The cloak he wore had a radiance coming off of it. Then there was a rustling in the trees and a spider fell to the ground.

'Ouch' Soledad thought to himself. 'That had to hurt.' As he finished his thoughts, he saw the small man whirl around and look up. He was looking in his general direction. No. He was looking at Soledad. Then he registered the sound of footsteps. No, not footsteps. More like iron into wood. As he looked upward, he saw a huge spider.

On the ground, Daryn was beginning to smile. Two for one. But while his attention was turned toward the newcomer, Tantin rushed in and tackled him to the ground.

Soledad pulled out his dagger and stuck it in the tree. Then drawing his short sword, he deflected an attack by the spider. The resounding clang told him that this was no ordinary spider. As he jumped upward to another branch, he called the dagger. When the spider began climbing to him, it was stopped as the dagger cut through one of its legs.

'Not quite a direct hit, but it was good enough to stall it.' Soledad then flew around the combatants on the ground trying to escape the now seven-legged spider.

OoC:You can stay but no more. I will edit this with my post later because I am running out of cj right now.

Soledad jumped from the branch he was on to a tree a few meters away. The spider knowing its limitations, instead of jumping started to climb over using a vine. Thinking fast the spiky haired stranger tossed his dagger at the far end of the vine, slicing it instantly. Using the blade in his hand Soledad cut the other end of the vine sending the creature to the ground far below.

Back on the ground Tantin had, Daryn pined to the ground with his blade pressed against the cloaked strangers neck. Ready for the kill the warrior specked with black began to slice the throat of the man inhabited by spider. To his dismay, he heard a sound coming from above, knowing all to well of the dangers of the unknown he dived out of the way of the falling spider. With quicker reflexes then Daryn knew he had, the cloaked man rolled out of the way of the spider, just in time to save himself.

Rolling back onto his feet, Tantin stood above Daryn. The sweet dripping from his face made him know not to underestimate his opponents. Turning around he saw an unfamiliar sight. The warrior known Soledad was only a few feet away from him blade in hand. It seemed that the warrior was able to escape from the tree quicker then Tantin had thought.

The stranger slashed at Tantin’s head, but to no avail. Soledad tried a vertical swing but that too was dodged. For more attacks but none could connect, this was something Soledad was not expecting. He tried to charge at Tantin, however the warrior of speed leaped over him, and onto the trunk of the tree behind him. Latching on to the bright brown trunk, he used the sturdy tree to launch himself at the unsuspecting opponent. Quickly Soledad barely ducked the blow as Tantin dived just over his ducking head.

Rolling just as he hit the ground Tantin was able to quickly make it to his feet. He however was not expecting that as soon as he got up he would be laid out again. Lying on his back, he looked up and saw the shadowy figure of Daryn standing above him mace in hand. As Daryn was about to swing downwards the assassin jumped from out of nowhere kicking the cloaked stranger in the chest. Knocking Daryn back a few feet he was more stunned and surprised, he began to attack the assassin for the bounty on Tantin’s head.

Getting back to his feet Tantin surveyed the area. He noticed a broken tree hovering over where the two warrior where fighting. Only four vines kept the tree from killing the men. That will work Tantin thought to him as he began to climb a tree to get a better Idea on how to cut the vines down. About ¾, the way up the tree he spotted a vine, that if cut would lead down to where the support vines where. Figuring that this was the only way to cut the vines, he grabbed on the one near him and began to swing down. Faster then he thought it would go Tantin pulled out his blade. Just in time to cut the cables and send the tree down towards his enemies.

This battle wasn't going well. The bounty had some how shook off his magical fear, and another combatant had entered the arena. Not your simple walk in the park. The money was worth it though....

Daryn and the newcomer were toe to toe, battling it out with wits and strenght. Of course daryn would lose in mano-a-mano (hand to hand), but for now it was fun to play the little game.

Boars of the forest had come from afar to watch the ensuing fight. They snorted in hunger. Food here was scarce.

The newcomer stared up into the sky, giving Daryn an easily exploitable opening. Only when the stranger shouted, "S***!" did Daryn also look up. Hurtling at the two with amazing speed was a giant branch.

S*** was the right word to describe it. The man kicked off of Daryn, throwing himself back, but he still left Daryn in the target area. Without thinking, Daryn's hands flung themselves in eratic dimensions.

The spider priest was saved by a boar, who flung itself at it's possesor. It's broken body lay bleeding as it snorted one last time. The others snorted. Even if one of these did not die, they would eat.

The newcomer was gone from sight, but the hit was up in a tree. "Damnable trees," cursed Daryn. "Well, if you won't come down, I'll fish you out!" he shouted at the bounty. His hands moved quickly. Controlling this many animals was hard, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

His mind touched the mind of each seperate queen and ordered her to send her legions out of the trees. You see, angered fire ants aren't the best of friends. They spewed out of the crooks and nannies of each trunk, surrounding all points of the tree.

When the fire ants reached the fast man, they threw their mildly acidic sprays onto his hands. Although the man didn't scream, he let go and yelped. Unfortunately for him, he was twenty feet in the air. He hit the ground hard.

When Daryn reached his barely concious body, he kicked the mans ribs. That knocked him out. Daryn called out to the larger spider; it was pobably nursing it's wounds. It thundered out of the forest and set about to its master's wishes.

When the man was fully wrapped up, daryn dismissed the spiders to their home plane. They would there. He did summon, however, his tarantula steed. With his meager strenght, he rolled the man up the things hairy legs. "Get us to town," Daryn ordered as he watched for the other hunter.

It was a long way back, and Daryn was sure of ambush.

Soledad watched silently through the branches. The other spiders scuttled away, but a large one appeared. Daryn climbed on it and began riding it like a horse. 'So strange' Soledad thought.

He followed from the trees, waiting for his moment to strike. Calmly and quietly he stalked, thinking about his enemies all the while.

'So he's weak in hand-to-hand combat. As am I. Although I seem to be a little more proficient. He makes up for that weakness with his animals. So what do I do?

Before he could contemplate the matter any longer, the man below had stopped. Silently, Soledad slipped to the forest floor.

"It's getting a little dark" the strange man mused to himself. "I'd better set up camp here."

'He truly is strange. He's talking so loudly to himself. Unless... Soledad had seen through Daryn's trap. Quite easily, too. When the bait was not taken, Daryn climbed back on his spider and resumed his return trip. Maybe the other had been scared off. Best not to get off guard, though.

'I need to stop his spellcasting' Soledad thought as he resumed his chase from the trees.

After a while, Soledad began to tire. His prey was getting further away, and the pace was starting to hurt the assassin. If Daryn had not stopped to rest his steed just then, he most surely would have gotten away. This time there was obviously no trap, for Daryn did not speak aloud. At least, there was no obvious one. Soledad crept to the edges of the trees, hiding in the shadows.

When Daryn was mounting his spider once more, Soledad judged that the time was right. He cloaked himself and ran up behind Daryn, tackling him to the ground. With a loud 'oof!' he slid along the grassy jungle floor. Looking wildly around, he didn't see anything, so he began to summon his guardians to search out the interloper. Again, Soledad attacked from the shadows and knocked Daryn into a nearby tree. The spell was broken, and Daryn seemed to be affected by it.

When Daryn got up, he noticed a dagger at his feet. Realizing what was about to happen, he quickly jumped out of the way as the dagger buried itself in the tree where he had been standing. That one was close. Too close.

My aching head Tantin thought to himself as he awoke what happened. Wait where am I! begging to panic Tantin started try and fight his way out. As he was fighting, he realized that his strength alone could not allow him to escape. Reaching for his sword, he sliced his way out of the sticky net. Dropping on his back to the ground, he was positive they heard him.

Waiting, waiting, nothing, then he heard what sounded like a loud clanging of metal. Knowing this must mean there was a battle going on Tantin began to think of a way to catch them by surprise. “That was coming from this direction,” Tantin said to him self turning east, “only about 200 feet from here.” Looking around he decided it would be best to climb a tree and jump down on them.

Jumping from tree to tree, he saw the two warriors fighting it out on the ground. Flanking over to the right side he waited for the perfect moment to strike. He saw it, the two warriors parried each other and where caught in a sword lock. Jumping forward from the tree, he hoped to tack both out. It would have worked if Daryn did not duck, but the reason why he ducked was all the more deadly. Daryn was ducking because the assassin was swinging for Dayrn’s head, and now the blade was heading right for Tantin.

Slowing down time Tantin was just able to turn his body sideways and only get part of his tunic cut by the blade. Putting his hand out in front of him the young warrior used it to flip himself to his feet facing his two opponents. Drawing both his swords from his belt, he stared menacingly at his two opponents. The two bounty hunters looked at each other and nodded signify they temporary alliance against the superior swords man.

The two attack simultaneously, but both weapons where blocked. Tantin jumped into the air and kicked both combatants in the shoulder sending them a few feet back. Tantin used the momentum to back flip away and prepare for another attack. Soledad charged sword pointing for the agile warriors chest. Tantin moved right and used his left sword to block the attack. Directly after the silver haired warrior turned and delivered an elbow to the left side of Soledad’s head. Continuing his spin Tantin used his right blade to block the screaming mace.

Using his left blade, Tantin cut at Dayrn’s shin causing the cloaked man to drop his guard. Surly this would have been the end of Dayrn’s life if Soledad hadn’t interfered. Looking into Dayrn’s eyes, he saw the figure of a man behind himself. Tantin ducked just as the razor sharp blade whizzed by his head cutting of a few pieces of Tantin’s hair. Kicking out the back of the assassin’s legs, he fell to the ground. Tantin stood above the man lying on his back and pointed his mace at the man’s throat oblivious to the shadow rising behind him.

OoC: I guess I'll post since SheikahOps hasn't been showing himself lately.

BiC:

As Tantin readied his sword to strike, he was knocked forward over Soledad by Daryn. Soledad looked into the summoner's eyes but saw no hint that he had attacked to save him. He got to his feet as Daryn continued the attack. Tantin would sidestepped one of his swings, and then tried to counterattack. Daryn dodged to the right as Tantin's sword hit nothing and plunged into the ground. Then Soledad ran up with his own weapon, hoping to cleave open Tantin's head. He stumbled as his target moved away at amazing speeds, leaving his sword there. As Soledad surveyed the area looking for Tantin, he jumped into a nearby tree for cover.

Knowing the warrior could be anywhere, he cloaked himself and got away from the scene of the battle for a moment. Daryn was still looking around for Tantin, to no avail. Nowhere could he find either of his opponents. He sighed in frustration and called his steed so he could continue searching. As he climbed on, Tantin attacked out of nowhere and knocked him off. Daryn flew into a tree with a loud thud and slumped down. He had been knocked unconcious.

As Tantin readied for the finishing blow, Soledad's dagger flew into his arm. He screamed in pain as the blade cut into his skin and blood began to trickle down his arm. He loosed his sword and grabbed his arm, going down on one knee. Hopping down from a tree, Soledad stood above him.

"Why are you so valuable?" Soledad asked.

"Valuable?! To who? You are my test." Tantin was making no sense to Soledad.

"Test? You're my prey." Neither of the warriors could understand the other.

"What are you talking about?" they said to each other in unison.

"I was hired to catch you. Why would someone want you?"

"I don't know. I was sent here to prove myself."

'This man knows nothing of why he is here. I'll bet he doesn't even know how he got to this jungle. But then how could someone want his head?' Soledad was lost in thought, and Tantin took that chance to retrive his other blade. He screamed and charged at the assassin.

"Hold on!" Soledad yelled as he jumped above the blade. "Why are you attacking so suddenly?"

"Well, I must defeat you. And you obviously want to kill me" Tantin replied cooly.

"I never said anything about kill. Though chances are if I bring you back, you'll face a fate worse than death. But now I'm not so sure I want to bring you back. You obviously have done nothing."

"No matter. I still must kill you!" Tantin charged again, and this time Soledad stepped to the side.

"You act too rashly. Do you think your actions through? I'm offering not to kill you, yet still you provoke me. If you continue, I cannot be held responsible for acting in self-defense." Soledad stood there calmly, waiting for Tantin's reply.

ooC: Dont bring daryn back untill SheikahOps replies. Sorry this one os kind of short I will make the next one longer I promise.


“I know not where I am, or even what time I am In” Tantin replied “The only way to get back to my time and save yours is by defeating you and finish my test.”

“What are you talking about? I am going to be paid to bring you back to a man named Sinit. What is this test you speak of.” Soledad replied still trying to figure out what was going on.

“I was sent to this time by the master of time. He told me I had to complete some sort of test to return to where I need to be. You and that man are this test, or so I thought you mentioned Sinit did you not?” Tantin replied. The assassin nodded his head. “Sinit was once my master and trainer until I found out his true heart he seeks to take over the past and corrupt the future.”

“How do you know all of this? Where are you from? Why is this man after you?” The assassin asked for the sake of knowing.

“I was a member, by force, into his training school. He taught us many things and seeked to use us to take over the past. You see I am from the year 3045 he traveled to my time using the powers in the palace of time. After learning of his plan I chose to run away to the past and try to stop him before all the times where under his control that is why I am here and must fight you.” Tantin replied

“A heavy burden, but if you say you must fight to return I will not stop you. Though I will not hesitate to kill you if the time arrives.” Soledad replied unsheathing his weapon.

Picking up his blade from the ground he stood there waiting for an attack. Soledad was happy to oblige. He swung Violently at Tantin but missed due to Tantin’s speed. Turning around the assassin’s blade was met with the Tantin’s. Now they stood there in a deadly blade lock trying to met the others power. Soledad was gaining the upper hand because he was larger then his opponent. But as he was about to break the lock and attack Tantin jumped into the air and grabbed a hanging branch.

This caught Soledad completely of guard as he stumbled forward almost fell. Dropping down Tantin and Soledad stood almost thirty feet apart staring at each other. Soledad made the first move by taking out his dagger and throwing it hard at Tantin. By slowing down time Tantin was just able to dodge the daggers path he stood straight up again ready for another attack, however one thing the stranger from the future did not know is that the dagger can be called back, so as he stood there he felt a sharp pain in his back.

Dropping down to one knee with a dagger in his back Soledad charged into attack.

Soledad twirled his weapon above his head and sent it rushing towards Tantin with all his might, hoping to cleave open his head and end the battle quickly. Despite the dagger in his back, Tantin quickly recovered and brought his own sword up for a block. Although he managed to deflect the blow away from himself, Tantin lost his own sword in the process. Left weaponless, Soledad began another attack and the defenseless warrior. Slowing down time, Tantin managed to roll away from the attack and pull the dagger out in one swift motion. Looking at his hand, Tantin smiled as he formulated his plan.

While Soledad was still turned around, Tantin threw the dagger straight at his head. Turning quickly, Soledad managed to slow the dagger's progress enough to dodge it. As he bent to retrieve it, Tantin used his speed to grab one sword from the ground. Still moving quickly, he attacked Soledad while in his vulnerable position. Jumping into a tree, Tantin's blade only caught some of Soledad's leg. But it was still enough to have the assassin emit a gasp of pain.

While Soledad was quickly bandaging his wound, Tantin took the opportunity to retrieve his other weapon. With both weapons readied in his hands, Tantin had gained the upper hand. Slicing the branch where Soledad was, it fell to the ground along with the man. Getting up quickly. Soledad was just in time to block one of Tantin's swings. With Soledad's sword locked, Tantin swung his other weapon at Soledad's feet, hoping to incapacitate him and seal his victory. Thinking quickly, Soledad called his dagger to dig into Tantin's arm. Dropping the sword in pain, Soledad broke the lock they were in and spiraled back to catch his breath.

"It seems the real fight has just begun," he muttered.

They both paused for a moment, each man sizing up the other. It seemed that both fighters had their own tricks up their sleeves. Soledad looked Tantin up and down, attempting to discern a weakness.

'His time-bending skills give him an upper hand. His speed is also superior to my own. I could hide and wait for a good time to strike, but I don't want him to get any rest. This could end up a matter of stamina if things go on like this. I need to somehow incapacitate him.' Soledad had thought of something.

Jumping into the tree above him, he scurried off and cloaked himself. Slowly creeping back to the battle, he noticed Tantin scouring the treetops attempting to find him. In the shadows under the leafy canopy, Soledad was invisible. Slowly, Soledad climbed down from his perch using all his skill so he wouldn't be detected. When he dismounted the tree pain shot through his leg where Tantin's blade had hit. Sneaking up behind the other warrior, Soledad took the flat of his blade and hit it against the back of Tantin's knees. Roaring in pain, Tantin slumped to the ground. He looked around wildly, but Soledad had retreated back to the safety of the trees.

'First, the mental game,' Soledad thought to himself. An enraged warrior was no good in battle. Again and again Soledad crept up and annoyed Tantin a little more each time. Eventually Tantin was fed up.

"No more of your games! Come out and fight!" Tantin was absolutely furious. Just how Soledad wanted him.

“Come out of the shadows you bastard show your self.” Tantin screamed at the blackened forest. The burnt warrior tried to think of a plan for when his opponent attacked next but he could not think over his rage. Suddenly in front of him he caught a glimpse of the man, but it was to late the man had already began his attack. In his surprise Tantin used his powers to temporally stop time.

Looking around with only his eyes, he noticed a vine hanging from above just above his head. If I grab onto that he thought to himself, Not only could I dodge him but also be able to gain higher ground in the trees. So as the time began to move the warrior from the future grabbed the vine and curled his legs up to dodge the on coming attack. Using his arms Tantin climbed his way to the mid point of the vine and swung onto a tree branch.

Soledad stood below and watched as Tantin began to move quickly along the treetop. He knew he had to fast if he was to catch his prey. Jumping on a small branch and using it to propel himself high he was able to get only a few feet under the branch Tantin was on. Only now the fast warrior had already began to move far away. Although Tantin had a head start the assassin was able to catch up to him. He assassin moved quickly threw the tree tops as he had always done as Tantin although fast was not used to the odd shapes of the braches he was on and that slowed him down considerably.

Soledad caught up with his prey and slashed at his ankles. The pain of the cut caused the warrior marked with scars to lose his balance and fall. He was just able to grab onto the branch, with his hand, that he was about to jump onto. Soledad jumped to branch Tantin was hanging off of and stabbed downwards to one of the silver haired warrior’s hands. Tantin moved his hand quickly and was able to dodge the attack and turn himself the other direction.

He swung of the branch and onto another facing perpendicular to the one he was hanging off of. Landing hard with both feet Tantin turned around and quickly ducked the dagger heading straight for him. The dagger found itself planted into the trunk of the tree. Tantin grabbed the dagger but did not expect it to pull away from him. It was at that second the fast warrior finally figured out the secret of the dagger.

But before he could put his thoughts in motion Soledad leaped at the warrior from two times. Stopping time Tantin was left with a bad situation. If he was to duck and stab upwards it would certainly kill his adversary, but if he simply blocked the attack and hit his dagger hand it would fly and get caught in between two trees a little way to there side, a place where Soledad could not call it back from. The thing was the upward slash had very small chance of working because he would see it coming where the block and attack the hand had a high chance of success but would not kill his opponent.

Caught between a rock and a hard place the scarred warrior decided on the upward stab. It was a bad decision for as he had thought Soledad saw it coming and was able to turn his body to dodge it. Although he had ducked the blade the assassin’s body hit Tantin and sent him downwards to the ground below. As he flew downwards he was just able to grab a branch with one hand, surly that saved his life.

I cannot fight this person on the trees I must find someway to bring him to an open area. these where the thoughts going threw the warriors head as he hung there above the ground. He knew what he had to do but not how to do, for he did not know the area he was in. He only hopped his next plan would be better then his last.

Tantin pulled himself up onto the branch to survey the area and see if he could formulate a plan. But before he could even think of anything, Soledad pressured him once more. Attacking furiously, the assassin's blade flew through the air quick enough to make Tantin blink in surprise. Well, he would have if he were not dodging for his life. Slowing time once more, Tantin managed to get himself away from the attack and out of Soledad's sight. Sitting on a branch above his head, he looked around to see what he could see.

All around him were branches. This jungle was obviously old: the trees were tall, the canopy thick, and there were even some rotting branches. Tantin did a double-take. He knew how he could get Soledad to the ground.

Putting his plan into action, Tantin made sure to get Soledad's attention as he leaped over the decayed wood. When Soledad went after, a step on the rotted limb sent him down to the ground. Landing with a loud thud, Soledad was incapacitated for the moment. Tantin got down slowly, favoring his sore ankles. When he reached the jungle floor Soledad was still on his knees. Calmly walking over, Tantin kicked him back to the ground.

"Falling for such a simple trick?" Tantin asked haughtily.

Laughing from the ground, Soledad spoke up. "Underestimating me so early?" He stood up slowly, and as Tantin rushed in to attack Soledad jumped up and kicked him down. "Don't flatter yourself. I did fall, but I do get back up. You'll have to do better if you're going to get rid of me."

Tantin growled as he got back up and charged at Soledad again. Sidestepping seemingly without effort, Soledad gave Tantin a solid whack in the back of the head. The time warrior went down to the ground, but quickly jumped up again.

"Now I'm getting angry again!" he roared.

"You're using your emotions to fight. There's no way you can win. At least, not if you cannot control them." Soledad had fought others that had used their emotions in battle, but they used them to their advantage. They used the spur of energy they recieved to fight back harder. But Tantin just thought with his heart if he was riled up.

Tantin stood for a moment and contemplated what Soledad had told him. Gathering himself up again, he stood to his full height. Readying his blades, he turned to Soledad. "You're right. I must control them. And now that I've mastered them, I will defeat you."

"You cannot master them so easily" Soledad scoffed. "You must train to do that. Think with your head, fight with your heart." Soledad twirled his blade in the air and then got into a ready stance, preparing for Tantin's next strike.

OoC: there is only two "e" in Defeat not three. . And I know physicly not alot happened in this post but mentaly you see the first trace of his real personality. The side he keeps within.

BiC:

Tantin attacked viciously and as he expected Soledad dodged the attack. Soledad thinking he was just attacking without thinking attempted to whack Tantin again but Tantin saw his move and ducked his attack and kicked out the back of Soledad’s knees, sending him flying towards the ground. As his body met the ground little pieces of dust and leaves flew into the air from the floor of that dense jungle.

Backhand springing away from the thick of the battle Tantin stopped and waited for his opponent. Waiting his eyes began to wander he saw the beauty of the forest the stillness of the birds as it seems them too where engulfed in the battle. He looked at the sun, which had all but gone away covered by the tall mountains. This world he was in was not his own, it was not even the world he fought his battles across time in. No, this world was different this world was oblivious to his wars, to his battles, to the things he knew so well. This, world had a calmness about it, a quietness about it, something that he had not seen in a long time, he found him self looking for what seemed like ever, but was only mere seconds, at the world his future and his past this world was the middle this was what he sought to save. It did not look like it needed saving but if his enemies succeeded in killing him he knew this world would be one of great death and destruction a world where there was no good things, no…happiness. Happiness, the word felt weird on his tongue for he had long sense lost the meaning to it. A word that he could not remember yes all things about this word lost itself in his mind, for he had never known them. Yes, he knew the meaning but he could not feel that emotion all he ever felt was pain and suffering and he thought nothing of it, he did not care for his wounds as they have always been there he looked away from his sorrow for it has never left him, when confronted with fear he merely laughs a fake laugh for he had never known a day without fear. Yes his only wish was to defeat his enemies so he could have the peace the…happiness he so longed for.

Snapping back to his reality he saw what he needed to do, he knew that the only way to take down his temporarily enemy was to keep his heart about him…to not let anger the one thing he could not control take the best of him. As his opponent charged instead of waiting for the counter like a fool he jumped for a small branch above his head, and gracefully used it to jump over his opponent. He turned around and now his enemy began to show signs of annoyance.

With a forced smirk he came up with these words, ”I have mastered all arts of fighting what makes you think emotions are any different.”

OoC: I'm so sorry it took so long. Life's got a way of sucking to the point where you get no time.

As for defeat, I knew that. Minor typo. Usually I catch those, too...

And just so you know...himself is one word

BiC:

"Emotions are more than you think. But..." Soledad looked Tantin up and down, "you seem more confident now. Maybe I've taught you something." Bringing his sword up, he charged again.

Tantin was the one who sidestepped this time, but when nothing rushed past him he was forced to do a double-take. He looked up just in time to catch Soledad's sword with his own.

"But just because you learn something," Soledad broke the sword lock and jumped away, "doesn't mean you can get cocky." A smile broke his usually calm face. This battle was almost fun.

Tantin's temper began to rise, but he kept it in check. Now was not the time to let his emotions control him. With an enemy as collected as this one, careful planning was needed. He could probably outpower him, if he could only hold him somewhere. Soledad took advantage of Tantin's hesitance and attacked again. With his blazing speed Tantin twirled around Soledad and slapped him with the flat of his blade in an attempt to aggrivate him. He merely made him break out a smile.

"You may control your emotions but you don't know emotional warfare. Only when you master your own emotions will you be able to attack those of others. I've trained years. You've got minutes. I would advise you to stop trying to get in my head and start trying to beat me. If you don't, you're sure to fail."

A frown appeared on Tantin's face. He had mastered his emotions. He was able to stop himself from rushing in, even at that moment. He had control. But he took Soledad's advice and attacked. Throwing his weight into his blade, Tantin managed to push Soledad back when his sword was caught. Bringing his other one around the side in an attempt to get a hit on the assassin, he found it was stopped by the dagger. Twirling his sword around Tantin's, Soledad managed to put himself in control. Still with his blade locked, he threw Tantin's other sword off of his dagger and attempted a stab. Before it connected Tantin dodged to the side, still fighting Soledad for supremacy.

OoC: Sorry it's so short, I'm running low on CJ's and I've still got another battle to post in. I'll get a longer one later.

OoC: Oh it better be longer or you may have to face my wrath

biC:

Tantin swung around and blocked a heavy attack by Soledad using both weapons in an “X” to do so. Soledad used his energy to push the silver haired warrior against a tree. Pushing with both blades he sent the one of Soledad’s back. The assassin brought his blade back ready for a deadly jab when Tantin spun around to the opposite side of the tree logging his opponent’s blade in the tree. Tantin swung part of body around his hiding place in an attempt to attack a distracted Soledad, but the assassin leaned back and dodge the attack. Tantin blade struck the static blade of Soledad’s when this happen the assassin pushed his blade in mote causing his opponents blade to be stuck between Soledad’s hilt and the tree. The deeply scarred warrior swung his other arm around to the opposite side of the tree. The assassin seeing the attack quickly took out his dagger and blocked. All four weapons where tangled so neither man could gain the upper hand.

The two men pulled there weapon’s out at the same time, Tantin Backhand springed backwards and a little to the left, where Soledad just pushed himself backwards. Soledad blade in hand charged at the forsaken warrior, however to his surprise the man jumped into the air to dodge the attack but didn’t come down. The slightly confused warrior looked up and saw that Tantin had spread his legs out in a splits like position and held himself between two close trees. Pushing off one leg he twirled off the tree onto a close branch. Immediately from there he flipped off the tree onto his feet right in front of his opponent.

Tantin let out a fake smile and started his attack. He attacked to the right but it was blocked he spun off the block and slashed for the knees, Soledad jumped up and dodge the attack. But Tantin keep spinning and used both blades for a downwards strike that his opponent was just able to block. Tantin back flipped a little ways away and started another series of attacks. He started with a scissor slice form both sides but Soledad ducked, but as Tantin’s two hilts met he brought his blades up and stabbed downwards, but once again his opponent moved to fast and his blades dug deep into the soft ground. Getting up quickly he jumped off stuck blades and his leg looked ready for a flying kick. Tantin however used his triumph card time control. Slowing down time he jumped up and delivered a brutal stomping kick to the man’s chest and back flipped off pressure he delivered landing on his feet and restoring the normal speed of time.

His opponent fell from the air and onto his back just a few feet from the hilts of Tantin’s swords. Tantin leisurely walked over and grabbed his blades from the ground causing great amounts of dust to fill the air. All Soledad could see was the vague outline of a man that seemed to show no remorse for what he thinks he is about to do.

Tantin, sure of his victory, raised his blades to deliver the final blow. He brought them down, one right after another, but Soledad had lept up. Twirling out of the way, the assassin was still caught by Tantin's attack. He supressed a scream and stood ready for an attack to come at him. When the dust settled, Tantin could see blood trickling from a gash on Soledad's left arm. Soledad's face was calm, but his mouth was tight.

"Just give up. I've got you now." Tantin couldn't help but smile. He had defeated this warrior; he who had boasted so much.

"I don't give up so easily. This papercut is nothing for me to worry about." Soledad rotated his injured arm and grimaced.

"That's funny. The grimace doesn't look like you're fine. Make it easier on yourself, just give up."

"I told you, that won't be happening." Soledad tossed his dagger in the air and caught it again in his left hand nonchalantly. This time his face showed nothing.

"Fine then," Tantin said with a laugh in his voice, "you won't mind finishing our fight." He picked up his blades and ran at Soledad, who brought his own up to block. Tantin brought his sword around his head, striking down at Soledad. He countered by bringing his own blade up to block. Keeping those two locked, Tantin brought his other blade around his side, aiming at Soledad's chest. Instead of blocking with his dagger, Soledad broke the lock and spun away from the blades, causing them to collide and Tantin to almost fall. A smile played across Soledad's lips. A fighter doesn't need both hands to win.

When Tantin stood up straight after regaining his balance, he was met with a roundhouse kick to the stomach. Doubling over, he fell to his knees. Soledad took his sword and put it to Tantin's neck, using the flat of the blade to direct Tantin's face upward.

"Who's got who?" Soledad asked with a smile.

"I've got you" Tantin smiled back. With a flourish, he swept his blades along the ground, forcing Soledad to jump up and let Tantin free. He jumped up and brought his blades the other way, giving Soledad the choice to retreat or be sliced. Instead of backing away, Soledad blocked with his own weapons. Tantin held it there for a moment, watching. Soledad's left arm twitched ever so slightly, but it was enough. Tantin pushed hard with his right arm, making Soledad's left side tremble with the effort of keeping up the block. After a few more seconds, Soledad released the block and ducked under the swords. Tantin, expecting the break, swept his swords downward. Soledad just managed to get his own sword up quickly enough to block. It was not a strong hold, but it allowed him room to move. On the ground, Soledad rolled backward and Tantin's blades went to the ground.

'Hm...my arm is truly a bother. I need some way to escape for now.' Soledad couldn't face this fast warrior without both arms. Using Tantin's accidental tactic, he used his sword to blast dust into the air.

"Don't try this," Tantin coughed. "I can see your outline perfectly." It was true, Tantin saw the outline of Soledad as clear as day. He ran up to it to finish the battle quickly and sliced into it with his sword. But in the middle of hitting it, his sword stopped, hurting his arm. As the dust fell to the ground and the air cleared, Tantin saw what he had hit. Soledad had tricked him. His sword was cut deep into a tree. As he looked around, Soledad was nowhere to be found. "Coward!" he screamed, to no reply.

Soledad was only a few trees away, cloaked in the shadows.

"Patience. We're not through yet." With those words he flitted off to rest.

OoC: I think they need a break. They've been fighting for a while now. How about a good night's rest?

OoC:I rest is a good idea.

BiC:
Tantin was left there in the dead of night staring into the blackness. His opponent left but not forever, he would be back. Sense Tantin had no recognition he decided not to leave his forest haven until he had won.

“Fine then have your precious sleep. I will wait for you here I expect you here at noon if not then you have accepted defeat.” The warrior of time yelled to his fading opponent.

“I come back don’t you worry,” The assassin said his voice trailing off in the distance.

Looking around in the night Tantin was able to find a nice spot to sleep. Until now he never realized how dark the woods where, the only light was a pale moonlight filtered between the tree leaves. The remaining moonlight only lit up select spots and in those spots life seem to buzz. The insects swarmed and the rabbits hopped all around there precious light. It makes one wonder, why does all life surround the light suffocating it, shouldn’t there precious light be able to shine where it saw fit and not have to worry about the pests that swarm. I guess the smallest things makes one wonder about the biggest.

. . . .

A little after dawn the warrior awoke to a bright light that filtered into his waking eyes. Still here, how much longer must I fight till he is happy the man thought to himself, getting up and stretching. He instinctively checked his blades to make sure they weren’t stolen by a thief in the night. He looked to the sky to tell the time it appeared only a little before right above him. About ten id say. Two hours was the time he had to wait for his opponent.

He remembered there was a creek near by, and he knew he was thirsty. [I] Just get a drink and be right [I] He wandered to the small creek yearning for a drink of cool water. The bugs bounced off the water, and a small dear drank a little bit down the creek bend. Dropping down to one knee he scooped down a cup full of water and sipped. The fresh water was stranger on his tongue for he usually drank bitter desert water.

He continued his drink until he saw the reflection of a man in the creek. The man had his sword drawn and was poised for attack when tannin quickly spun around to block his blow.

“Your early,’ the scarred man said to Soledad.

OoC: I'm sorry it's so late. I just can't seem to write anything here anymore. I need some kind of inspiration. I think we need a change of scenery.

"You're early," Tantin began.

"Since when has there been a time?" Soledad asked.

"We may never have set one, but I know times. Trust me."

"Enough friendly banter. You still need to beat me, do you not? I'd think you'd want to get that done with as early as possible."

Without another word, Tantin drew his weapons as Soledad unsheathed his own. Soledad jumped from the tree, landing near Tantin. Without missing a beat, Tantin threw himself at Soledad and their swords connected once more. Blow for blow, they matched each other. Soledad swept low, and Tantin jumped over the blow and brought his own weapon down on Soledad's head. Soledad spun out of the way, leaving Tantin to recover his blade from the soft earth.

We can't beat each other, not like this. We repeat the same motions over and over again. This isn't like me. What's wrong? Soledad thought about it, letting his mind wander as they fought. They had used all the tactics the jungle had given them: trees, trunks, and branches. Tantin had even used the vines. What else was there to do? Nothing more here. The jungle has given us its resources and yet we still cannot beat one another. So instead of going through the motions all over again, Soledad decided to change the environment.

Once Tantin had picked his blade back up, he made a mad dash at Soledad. Jumping up to the trees, Soledad set off at a mad pace towards wherever his legs led him. Tantin followed closely behind, gaining some ground with each step. Before too long, Soledad stopped so suddenly he nearly fell over. The new destination had been reached.

The two men were now on a cliff. Many feet below where thier own were planted roared crashing waters threatening to obliterate anything that reached their frothing form. The cliff was climbable, but dangerous. The foot and hand holds were few and far between, and those that were easily accesible were slippery from the mist the waters constantly poured out. Both men stared for a moment, before looking at each other once again.

"Here we resume our fight." Soledad said and prepared to resume.

OoC: There we go. Cliff faces are always fun.