Dead in the Water (Hyrulian Hero)

Dead in the water. Not a phrase Ethan would usually use, but after the days events, the sentence would be stuck in his head for quite a while. The assassin wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, making sure that he didn’t let go of the wooden plank above him.

Great job to pick, the only one where I could die as well… Ethan thought to himself. The ninja was hung underneath a bridge, with only a few thin planks of wood to cling to. If Ethan let go, he would fall over 200 meters to a shallow water grave. Under normal circumstances the assassin preferred to take his opponent on directly, but the man who had hired him for the job had said the man was a skilled fighter, and so Ethan had had to think up a another way to attack. A few hours of meditation and a map of the wanted man’s walking route had given the ninja the idea. The target always crossed over the same bridge for a trip into town every few weeks, and it was the only place that it would be hard to fight, so Ethan had decided it would be the best place to spring a trap. A few hours before the man was supposed to cross, the assassin set to work. Using Havoc he cut most of the major supports at the start of the bridge where the man would cross, so that when he first stepped onto the bridge it would partly collapse, giving him no exit so he could run away. Secondly Ethan had cut four planks out of the middle of the bridge, replacing them with hardened lines of clay that matched the color of the other planks, so that when the man attempted to finish his journey he would fall through the clay.

If he weren’t worth twice as much alive I would just let him fall to his death… the assassin thought, studying the net that was placed under the clay planks. Once the man fell through the net would close, but to make sure that nothing could go wrong Ethan held the cord to snap it shut. To his surprise no one else had come across the bridge, which made it easier for the ninja to sense his target approaching. Another hour passed and Ethan was about to think his prey wasn’t coming.

“What a waste of time and my money,” the assassin grunted, letting go of the net’s closing rope. It swung out, resting in place next to the net. Ethan was about to climb up when something disturbed him. There were very faint vibrations traveling through the planks, signaling that somebody was very near, but not on the bridge yet. Cursing under his breath, Ethan wrapped his legs round a plank and stretched out for the cord once more. After a few seconds it swung into his grasp, but before he could grab it the entire bridge swayed, for one end of the bridge has just collapsed. Hearing someone jump onto the remaining part of the bridge made Ethan grab desperately at the cord again, as it had swung out of his hand. The footsteps neared, barely inches away from the fake planks. Muttering curses under his breath, the assassin knew what he had to do to get the cord, but he would have to time it right. Closing his eyes, Ethan jumped from the plank, just as his target fell through the planks. Grabbing the cord with both hands, the ninja shut the net, trapping the man inside, and also stopping Ethan from falling to his death. Sighing with relief, Ethan began to swing on the cord, but as he did the net began to open, forcing him to stop.

“Dam. Trapped here till I can figure out a way to keep the net closed while I escape,” the assassin muttered to himself. Suddenly he noticed that the target had drawn a weapon, and was frantically slashing at the net in a vain attempt to free himself.

“That won’t work stupid, that net was woven from metal fibres, any attempt to cut it won’t work. Even if you did cut it you would just fall to your death.” Ethan said casually, his eyes darting everywhere, trying to find something that he could get to without having to jump from the cord or swing to.

Ooc: hope this scenario is alright.

Ilya smiled smuggly as the ninja rotated in place on the rope. It seemed that they were both trapped. The attacking ninja couldn't move without opening the net, and unless the man opened the net, Ilya had to either stay there, or try and force his way out, to a watery grave.

"What are you smiling about, stupid?" Ethan yelled, looking around for something else to grab a hold of.

Ilya didn't reply, but merely sat down on the bottom of the net, a kunai spinning around on one finger. Ethan could swing and jump to a wooden support beam, but doing so would release Ilya. Likewise, he could simply climb up the cord and onto the bridge, but that would also force him to release the cord and open the net.

"You know, you might as well go on up." Ilya said roughly, the kunai still whirling around his finger. "At the moment, you are at my mercy. I could stick you so full of needles right now that you could pass for a hedgehog. As well, I can also simply cut the cord with this kunai, sending you down below. Also, I can sit here comfortly, while the longer you hang there, the weaker you become."

Ethan didn't answer, but Ilya could see that what he said what having an effect. Worry lines creased the ninja's forehead, and his eyes began to dart around more frantically. As if to underline what he had just said, Ilya pulled out five thick steel needles and tossed them through the net one at a time, forming a star pattern on Ethan's chest.

The assassin grunted but didn't let go of the cord. Smiling, the red-clad man in the net continued to throw needles at Ethan, each time forming a smaller star inside the former. Finally, Ilya decided to end Ethan's torment and give him a choice.

"I'll give you three options." Ilya said, standing up. "I can continue your transformation into a hedgehog, kill you quickly with a needle in one of your vital spots, or let you in on a secret."

"What kind of secret?" Ethan asked, his eyes narrowing. Ethan couldn't be sure because of the face mask, but he thought that the ninja smiled.

The man in the net simply pointed up above Ethan. The assassin looked up to see Ilya crouched down upside down on the bottom of the bridge, holding a kunai against the very cord that kept Ethan from a watery death.

"What the-?!" Ethan blurted, looking quickly between the two men.

"That man in the net is a clone." The Ilya above the assassin explained. "You did a very good job setting up the trap, just not good enough. If I had come straight along the road towards the bridge, I probably wouldn't have noticed the trap. But, I don't like roads; they're too direct for my liking. I came along the side of the cliff, over the river."

"I could see the net under the bridge from that angle, so I decided to send a clone on ahead to trigger any traps. Which turned out to be a good thing. Now, I have you at my mercy, instead of the other way around." The Ilya in the net continued.

"So," The two men said in unision. "Do you chose to die by falling to the watery rocks below, or by being pumped full of needles and kunai?"

And people call me a master of tricks… Ethan thought, grabbing Havoc from its sheath. As soon as the ninja moved for his weapon, Ilya threw a kunai at him, the blade sticking straight into the assassins left arm. Ignoring the massive amount of pain, Ethan slashed at the only place the net was vulnerable, the four cords that held it tied to the bridge. The assassin managed to cut through two, making the net rock wildly, sending the clone tumbling to the bottom of the net, but before he could cut through anymore the real Ilya cut through the cord he was clung to, opening the net and sending the clone and Ethan to their deaths. But the ninja had been prepared, and struck out with Havoc, the red blade embedding itself in a nearby wooden pole, stopping his fall. Watching the clone, Ethan smiled as it hit the water below and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“Fancy parlor trick, think you can do another?” the assassin shouted. Using his feet, Ethan positioned himself so that his legs were next to the sword, and pushed off, pulling Havoc from where it was stuck. As soon as he jumped, Ethan struck out again with the sword, rotating his body round so it was now only meters below where the ruined net was still hanging. Pushing off again, the ninja aimed his body for the net, intending to grab hold a climb back onto the bridge. But a glint in the corner of his eye warned him of incoming danger, and Ethan moved Havoc to his left just in time as another kunai whistled through the air at him, bouncing harmlessly off the blade. Grabbing the net with his hand as he flew past it, the ninja began to climb, eventually making it to the top of the narrow bridge once more.

“You took your time getting up.” A voice chuckled. Turning round, Ethan found that he was now confronted with three Ilya’s.

“You fight dirty.” Ethan snarled, and pulled the kunai from his arm, readying to throw it.

Ooc: sorry about short post, I’m feeling a bit CJless.

The triplets surrounded Ethan, forming a square as the fourth leapt up over the railing and took the last corner. Each of the Ilyas drew a katana, holding them out in an offensive position. Muttering under their breaths, the four began to cast a spell. There was a slight whooshing sound as the four took off with an incredible speed.

The clones sped around Ethan in a perfect circle, creating a crimson blur. Ethan pulled back his blade and lashed out with it, only to have it deflected and to be cut across his back by a different clone. Again, Ethan lashed out with Havoc, but was once more deflected and countered. Trying a different approach, the assassin flipped the kunai over and hurled it into the ring, following it with Havoc.

The kunai was deflected, but there was a large puff of smoke as the ninja's blade stabbed through a clone. The smoke was caught up by the three remaining Ilyas, becoming pulled into the rotation and forming a ring of smoke. Suddenly, three kunais shot out from the smokey depths of the circle and flew towards Ethan. The ninja managed to deflect one, and one skidded and bounced off his chainmail, but the last one flew straight into his arm, piercing his flesh in an explosion of blood.

He's fast Ethan thought, pulling the knife out of his left arm. Alright, I'll have to become faster too. A thick silvery substance flowed over the assassin's blade, widening it. From within the cloud of smoke, Ilya observed his foe. Somethings happening. He thought, watching as Ethan's head lowered onto his chest. Now, when he's vulnerable! The three Ilyas leapt out of the ring, zooming in on Ethan.

Suddenly, the assassin's head flew up, his eyes unaturably wide. With a speed to almost match Ilya's, the man deflected two of the katanas and almost dodged the third. The third katana ripped through his pants, cutting his leg. Spinning around, Ethan moved off the blade and cut through another of the Ilyas.

The remaining two leapt back and drew their other swords. "You're faster than before." They stated in unision, moving back into a smaller and faster ring. "But we're still faster!"

Without thinking, Ethan jumped over the nearby rail of the bridge, avoiding the various kunai that were thrown at him. Not caring to look for anything to grab onto, the assassin let himself fall, the wind whipping past him as he fell. Waiting till he passed the veil of mist and was out of sight, Ethan punched his hands together, creating a seismic wave in mid air, slowing his descent. Pounding his hands together furiously, the assassin eventually stopped moving, only a few feet above the water. Smiling, he let himself drop into the shallow water, which only came up to his stomach.

“I thank you Tantos for your gift, even if it was forcefully taken.” Ethan muttered, and swam to the nearest support beam.

~

“It’s been ten minutes, he can’t have survived the fall.” Ilya muttered.

“Still, he could have been trained like us, and we know we could have survived that.” The clone said casually before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Shrugging, the ninja continued his journey across the bridge, but stopped as something groaned underneath him. Before he could move, a square of wood was cut underneath him, letting him fall through. Landing with a thud on a plank Ilya spotted Ethan, dripping wet and wielding Havoc, the blade a dark green color.

“You think I would have chucked myself off for no reason. You should have listened to your clone.” The assassin chuckled, and lashed out, his sword aimed for his opponents head. Ilya ducked, but Havoc traveled straight through the wood, severing the beam, making the bridge slant. Having a sudden idea, Ethan began to swing the blade around, cutting through beam after beam of wood.

“What are you doing?” Ilya shouted, drawing several needles from his pockets. Not answering, the ninja finished cutting by severing the very planks he and Ilya were stood on, sending them plummeting down into the water.

ooc: sorry about the short post, ive had to do four lengthy posts in one day, so im a bit CJless.

OoC: By the way, where did you get that pic for Ethan?

BiC: Without even thinking, Ilya began weaving his hands in an intricate pattern, casting a spell. Suddenly, Ilya's descent began to slow, his body suddenly a great deal lighter as Ethan sped right past him. Now that his Featherlite spell was giving him more time, the ninja slipped both hands into the two pouches on the back of his waist.

Pulling them back out, gauntlets now equiped. Holding them both out in either direction, a spiked chain shot out from each, wrapping around two of the splintered support beams on either side. The chains dug into the beams as Ilya fell, the spikes sending a myrid of wood chips sailing into the mist. Finally, the spikes caught, leaving the ninja suspended about five feet from the water. Ilya shaked one of the chains loose, swinging towards the other beam as the chain retaracted back into the gauntlet.

Catching himself on the beam with both feet, Ilya looked around for Ethan, swinging around the beam by the chain from his left arm. It was no use. The whole area was blanketed in a thick mist and fog, obscuring Ilya's opponent.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling caught Ilya's ear, causing him to bend both legs and launch away from the beam, Ethan speeding through the air the ninja had just vacated. The assassin slammed into the chain connecting Ilya and the support beam, sending them both hurling around in a large circle.

As he approached the beam, Ilya dug into the wood with his other arm, the claws on the gauntlet sending chips of wood everywhere. Looking down at Ethan, Ilya then launched himself the opposite direct around the beam, looping the chain from his other arm around Ethan and reversing his direction as well.

The crimson ninja grabbed Ethan by the back of his shirt as he flew by, hurling him again in a new direction, looping the spiked chain around his torso once more. Again, Ilya repeated the process, untill he had Ethan both wrapped by the chain and wrapped by the chain to the beam. Ilya dug his heels into the beam, coming to a stop in front of the assassin.

The red-clad man leaned back, the chain wrapped both around Ethan and the beam taunt. "Well," He said, giving the chain a tug, causing the spikes to dig into Ethan even more, blood flowing freely down his chest and arms. "Looks that your plan backfired, doesn't it?"

Ooc: Sorry about the wait, but since my computer’s back where it belongs, I’ll be able to post regularly! Oh and I found the picture in an old website, from an old game (I don’t know the name).

Bic:

“As my father used to say, looks can be deceiving.” Ethan muttered in reply. A plan already formed in his mind, the assassin took in a deep breath, slightly loosening the chains around him.

“What do you mean by that?” Ilya asked suspiciously.

“Well, do you know when you’re moving in for the final strike, and then your opponent somehow miraculously dodges it? That’s the kind of thing I can do.” Ethan replied, and let the forest green sword drop from his hand, shutting his eyes and concentrating as hard as he could as it fell.

“What did that accomplish?” the red-clad ninja laughed, and pulled tighter on the chain, just as Ethan had hoped. As the chain closed tight around the ninja, the extra bit of length let Ilya lean back more. Moments later, his laughter was cut short, as the entire bridge shook, sending it flying upwards and then tumbling downwards as the whole bridge collapsed. Closing his eyes, Ethan endured the pain as Ilya’s feet left the beam, and moments later his patience was rewarded, as both chains came loose, unwrapping from around him. Smiling to himself, Ethan opened his eyes as he went into a free fall. Looking left and right, the ninja saw beams of wood falling around him, moving at the exact same speed. But there was no sign of his opponent.

Hopefully he got hit by a beam… Ethan thought, a smile crossing his hidden face. Turning his thoughts to the matter at hands, the assassin now knew he needed a way to stop himself in mid free-fall, and he had precious time to do so.

“I wonder…” Ethan mumbled, his thoughts turning to his sword. Closing his eyes again, the ninja punched his hands together, creating another giant seismic wave in mid-air, this one much bigger than the others. Punching his hands together again, Ethan slowed his descent, striking out at the air above him as a meter thick beam hurtled at him from above. Dropping into the river once more, the assassin found himself situated in a small ring of rocks, Havoc stuck in the water directly in the middle of them.

“You have my gratitude, Linos.” Ethan mumbled, and pulled the sword from the ground. Side stepping as another block of wood came crashing down; the ninja decided that staying in the river was the best idea.

“If his body isn’t down here, then he’s probably already fled.” Ethan muttered, his eyes scanning through the thick fog. A sudden idea crossing his mind, the assassin pulled Havoc from its sheath once more, the blade already black. Closing his eyes, he watched himself searching the fog, and after a few seconds two familiar chains shot out of nowhere, binding him.

Using the fog to his advantage, he is a crafty one… the ninja thought.

Ooc: okay, since Ethan has seen it coming, he will now dodge your little attack. pwn